As many as 700,000 Illinoisans who receive health care through Medicaid are at risk of losing coverage as emergency measures designed to ensure people didn’t lose their health care during the COVID-19 pandemic are now being phased out.
Regular eligibility checks for Medicaid that stopped during the public health emergency will resume in May.
A federal report found that 4.6 million Latinos across the U.S. are likely to lose Medicaid — despite many still being eligible — because of issues navigating the renewal process.
Examples of health care plans that are included under Medicaid include All Kids, Moms and Babies and the Health Benefits for Immigrant Adults and Seniors program, which includes coverage for undocumented older adults.
Dr. Geraldine Luna, medical director of the Chicago Department of Public Health, joined Luvia Quiñones, senior director of health policy at the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, and Israel Rocha, CEO of Cook County Health, on “Latino Voices” to discuss the matter.
They shared the following information for people who may lose Medicaid coverage.
How to Update Your Personal Information:
Renewable forms for Medicaid will come in the mail, so people must ensure their phone number and address are updated with the state. Go to abe.illinois.gov or call 1-800-843-6154.
If You Lose Medicaid Coverage:
- Connect to coverage at your workplace or through the official Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace for Illinois: GetCoveredIllinois.gov.
- Community health centers can provide care to individuals regardless of ability to pay or immigration status: findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov.
How to Get Help Navigating Health Resources:
- Chicago and suburban Cook County residents can dial 211 to connect with a resource navigator in many languages. This includes resources for health care, food, housing, utility payment assistance, transportation, child care, employment, mental health services and more.
- Cook County Health has a financial assistance program called CareLink. Financial counselors can help people apply for CareLink, Medicaid, Medicare or an exchange health plan. Make an appointment with a counselor at 312-864-2224.
More information on the Medicaid renewal process can be found on the Cook County Health and Illinois Department of Human Services websites.
