How to get Medicaid or low-cost care in Illinois

Medicaid for adults in Illinois

KFF, a health policy research group, reports that Illinois expanded Medicaid in 2014. A state agency called the Department of Healthcare and Family Services, or HFS, runs the program.

Adults under 65 can qualify when their income is at or below 138 percent of the federal poverty level. The federal poverty level is a yearly dollar amount that the government uses to measure poverty. The amount grows with the size of your household, so a family of four has a higher limit than one person.

Children are covered through a program called All Kids, which is Medicaid and CHIP for kids. CHIP is the Children's Health Insurance Program, which helps families who earn too much for regular Medicaid. You can call the All Kids hotline at 1-866-255-5437 with questions. Pregnant people have their own, higher income limit, and our prenatal care guide explains how that works.

Four ways to apply for Illinois Medicaid

HFS lists four ways to apply, and any of them is free. You can apply at any time of year.

1. Go online to ABE, the state's Application for Benefits Eligibility website. HFS says the form takes about 30 to 45 minutes, and you can save it and finish later.
2. Call the DHS Help Line at 1-800-843-6154 to apply by phone. People who are deaf or hard of hearing can use the TTY line at 1-800-447-6404.
3. Visit a Family Community Resource Center, which is a state benefits office. To book in-person help, you can call Get Covered Illinois at 1-866-311-1119.
4. Print the paper form and sign it, then carry it to your local center or send it in by mail or fax.

When you finish online, the site gives you a tracking number that starts with the letter T. Please write that number down, because it lets you ask about your application later.

Before you start, gather the names and birth dates of everyone in your household. You will also need Social Security numbers if you have them, plus the income for each person. Our guide to how to apply for Medicaid walks through each step. Hospitals and community groups will often help you fill out the form. If HFS cannot check something by computer, it mails you a letter that lists the papers it needs. Answer that letter before the deadline, because a missed deadline can lead to a denial.

The new work reporting rule in 2027

A 2025 federal law adds a work rule for adults in the expansion group, which means adults who qualify only because of their income. CMS, the federal agency that oversees Medicaid, says these adults ages 19 to 64 must show 80 hours a month of activity. That can be work, school, volunteering or a work program. Making at least $580 a month also counts, and people in some groups are exempt.

HFS says some adults may have to report starting January 1, 2027, and that many people will be exempt. No one has to act until the state sends a notice, HFS adds. Keep your mailing address current in your ABE account so the notice reaches you. Our Medicaid work requirement guide explains who is exempt.

What if I earn too much for Medicaid?

Illinois runs its own marketplace, called Get Covered Illinois. The state describes it as the official place to compare plans and the only place to apply for tax credits that lower the cost. You can reach Get Covered Illinois by phone at 1-866-311-1119. A tax credit is money the government gives you to lower the monthly cost of a plan.

For 2026, the extra tax credits that came from a pandemic-era law have ended, and the old 400 percent of poverty cap is back. That means some middle-income households get less help than they did in 2025. If you lost a job, our guide on health insurance without a job explains your sign-up window.

Community health centers in Illinois

Illinois community health centers have their own group, the Illinois Primary Health Care Association. The group says it is the only association of community health centers in the state. These centers offer medical, dental, mental health and pharmacy care. They charge on a sliding scale, which means the price goes down when your income is lower.

To find the closest one, use the free Find a Health Center tool from the federal Health Resources and Services Administration, called HRSA. After you type in your zip code, call the center and ask what the first visit costs and what proof of income to bring. Our community health center guide lists what to ask.

Health centers often have staff who help people apply for Medicaid, so you can bring that up on the same call. If you are not sure whether you qualify, applying costs nothing, and the state makes the decision. A health center can also see you while you wait for an answer.

Checking an Illinois doctor's license

The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation licenses physicians, both medical doctors and osteopathic doctors. Its website has a tool called Check a License, and the state says past discipline is public information. You can reach it by searching for IDFPR Check a License.

Cash-pay doctors and emergencies

Some doctors in Illinois charge a flat monthly fee for primary care, which is called direct primary care. Read the agreement closely before you join. A monthly fee is not insurance, and our directory can help you find cash-pay doctors near you. Ask which lab tests and medicines the fee covers before you sign.

If you think you are having an emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. Federal law requires the hospital to examine and stabilize you even if you have no insurance. Many hospitals also have a financial assistance program that can lower the bill afterward.