For INDIVIDUALS
MAINTAIN YOUR MEDICAID COVERAGE
Beginning in 2027, adults receiving coverage through the Affordable Care Act Medicaid expansion ("ACA Adults") may need to comply with new federal rules to maintain their Medicaid coverage, including work requirements and renewals every 6 months.
These changes generally affect people ages 19-64 who don't have dependent children under 18 at home, and who are not on Medicare. Visit the Illinois Medicaid Customer Guide to HR 1 Changes to learn more.
Renewal facts, tips, and tools for enrollees
Facts
- People with Medicaid must renew their coverage every year (or every 6 months for certain adult enrollees). It is how the state makes sure you still qualify to receive benefits. The process is called “redetermination.”
- Illinois Medicaid recipients can have a renewal due date at any time of the year. Your due date is usually around the same time of the year when you first enrolled in Medicaid.
- Most people who lose their Medicaid coverage lose it because they didn’t complete the required paperwork on time, not because they are no longer eligible.
Tips
- Know your renewal due date - and make sure you don’t miss it. Use Illinois’ Application for Benefits Eligibility (ABE) system to find your renewal due date. Click on Manage My Case and search under “Benefit Details”. You can also use this website when it’s your time to complete the renewal process.
- Make sure your information, especially your address, is current with the state. This is how Illinois Medicaid knows where to send you information, including your annual renewal details. See how to change your Medicaid address.
- Check your mail: The Department of Healthcare & Family Services (HFS) will mail you a letter with renewal instructions about one month before your due date.
- Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Contact HFS at 1-866-255-5437 (TTY: 1-877-204-1012). If you are enrolled with a Medicaid health plan, you can also call the Member Services number on your member ID card.
- Be careful of scams: No one should ever ask you for money to renew your Medicaid benefits. Report scams by calling the Medicaid fraud hotline at 1-844-453-7283 (1-844-ILFRAUD).
Tools
- Illinois’ Application for Benefits Eligibility (ABE) system is the online portal used to apply for and manage Medicaid coverage. Need help? Refer to the ABE Customer Support website.
- Find renewal resources from Illinois Medicaid health plans below:
- Aetna Better Health® of Illinois
- Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois
- CountyCare Health Plan
- Humana
- Meridian Health Plan
- Molina Healthcare of Illinois
ILLINOIS MEDICAID MCO TRANSPORTATION TOOLKIT (June 2024 Update)
The Illinois Association of Medicaid Health Plans (IAMHP) and our member plans have pulled together a Toolkit specifically for Medicaid plan members as a resource to aid with scheduling of transportation for medical appointments.
IAMHP MEDICAID BENEFIT BROCHURE
The Illinois Association of Medicaid Health Plans (IAMHP) developed a Medicaid Benefit Brochure to serve as a guide for current and future Medicaid members to understand the comprehensive benefit provided by the Medicaid program, the added benefits of being enrolled in Medicaid managed care, and how to enroll in each program.
MCO MATERNAL BENEFITS TOOLKIT
Understanding benefits is a critical part of accessing the full continuum of healthcare for pregnant people and their families. To help pregnant people on Medicaid understand their maternal health benefits, IAMHP and FIMR Chicago have partnered to create the Illinois Medicaid Managed Care - Maternal Health Toolkit. This resource includes maternal health benefits covered by Medicaid, how to pick a doctor, and more.
MCO MATERNAL MENTAL HEALTH TOOLKIT
Mental health conditions arising during and after pregnancy are common, and there are resources to provide support through these challenges. As a resource for pregnant people and families on Medicaid, IAMHP and FIMR Chicago have pulled together the Illinois Medicaid Managed Care - Maternal Mental Health Toolkit.