Grundy Reporter

Rep. Jackie Haas reminded her constituents in a May 12 Facebook post, that those on Illinois Medicaid would have to renew coverage annually, starting in May.

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

"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 program primarily serves children, parents, and caretakers of children, pregnant women, persons with disabilities, blind individuals, those aged 65 years or older, and adults aged 19-64 who are not receiving Medicare coverage and who are not the parent or caretaker relative of a minor child. The primary services covered under Medicaid are physician, hospital, and long-term care. Additional coverage includes drugs, medical equipment and transportation, family planning, laboratory tests, x-rays, and other medical services.

You must be a resident of the state of Illinois, a U.S. national, citizen, permanent resident, or legal alien, and in need of health care/insurance assistance. Your financial situation must be characterized as low-income or very low-income. You must also meet one of the following criteria: you are pregnant or responsible for a child 18 or younger; blind, you are disabled a family member within the household; you are at the age of 65 years and older.

Once you meet these eligibility requirements, you can apply for Medicaid coverage through the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS). The application process involves providing documentation to verify your identity, citizenship, and income. HFS will also assess your eligibility based on your medical needs and financial situation.

It is important to note that 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.