Will County Gazette

Rep. Jackie Haas (R-Kankakee) reminded her constituents in a May 12 Facebook post that those on Illinois Medicaid will have to renew coverage annually, starting in May.

"Illinois Medicaid customers will once again have to renew their coverage annually starting this month," Haas wrote.

According to the official benefits website, the Medicaid program in Illinois is "a jointly funded state and Federal government program that pays for medical assistance services." 

The Medicaid program primarily serves individuals such as children, pregnant women, disabled persons, blind individuals, and elderly adults aged 65 or older, as well as non-Medicare recipients aged 19-64 who are not caring for a minor child. The program covers essential services such as physician, hospital, and long-term care, along with additional benefits like medication, medical equipment, transportation, family planning, lab tests, x-rays, and other medical services.

It is crucial for Illinois residents who rely on Medicaid to understand the eligibility requirements and the primary services offered under this program.

To qualify for Medicaid in Illinois, you must be a legal resident of the state and a U.S. citizen, national, permanent resident, or legal alien. You must also require health care/insurance assistance and have a low-income or very low-income financial situation. Additionally, you must meet one of the following criteria: you are pregnant, responsible for a child aged 18 or younger, blind, disabled, or 65 years of age or older.

If you meet these eligibility criteria, you can apply for Medicaid coverage through the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS). To complete the application process, you will need to provide documentation to verify your identity, citizenship, and income. HFS will then evaluate your eligibility based on your medical needs and financial situation.

Those on Illinois Medicaid will need to renew their coverage annually, starting in May. This means that individuals will need to reapply for coverage each year to ensure that they continue to meet the eligibility requirements. Failing to renew Medicaid coverage may result in losing access to essential medical services. 

According to a CBS News report, the COVID-19 pandemic led to a scenario where Medicaid patients had uninterrupted coverage. However, this situation has changed since the beginning of this month. Although not everyone will be required to renew their coverage in May, the Illinois Department of Health will send notifications to individuals indicating their specific renewal dates. Individuals can call 1-800-843-6154 for help with their renewal or look up their renewal dates here. Information on income limits is available on this page.