Stay Informed About Medicaid Changes

Major changes to Medicaid are going into effect. The Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) will inform you if you have to do something new to keep your coverage.

Make sure your address is updated with HFS.

Work Requirements and Redetermination

Starting January 1, 2027, individuals who qualify for health coverage thanks to Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act (also known as “ACA adults”) will be subject to new work requirements and increased renewals.

“ACA adults” enrollees are individuals who:

Are age 19-64
Do not receive Medicare, and
Do not have dependent child 18 years old or younger living with them

To maintain eligibility, “ACA adult” Medicaid enrollees must:

Renew coverage every 6 months (also known as going through redetermination)
Demonstrate 80 hours per month of work, school, or volunteering

Work requirements do not include pregnant women, adults with children 18 and younger, students, and people with disabilities. Some other ACA adults will also be eligible for exemptions from work requirements.

Immigrant Eligibility

Effective October 2026, the federal definition of “qualified immigrants” changed to exclude many previously eligible, lawfully present non-citizens from Medicaid coverage.

These adult groups will no longer qualify:

Refugees and asylum seekers
Victims of domestic violence and trafficking

These groups will still qualify:

Children under 19
Pregnant people
Green card holders, living in the US for 5+ years
Cuban and Haitian immigrants
Compact of Free Association (COFA) migrants

Patients who lose Medicaid benefits may be able to access temporary coverage through the HFS Family Planning Program, which covers primary and preventive care for Illinois residents of all genders and ages. There are two pathways to apply:

Family Planning Presumptive Eligibility (FPPE)

Requires a 5-minute verbal application
Provides immediate coverage, effective the day you apply
Lasts through the end of the following month (31-60 days of coverage)
You can apply up to 2 times a year
Application does not require proof of income, residency, or citizenship/immigration status

Family Planning Program (FPP) Ongoing Coverage

Apply though the ABE portal (same as Medicaid)
Application takes about 45 minutes
Coverage lasts for 12 months
Requires proof of income, residency and citizenship/immigration status
May be eligible for limited retroactive coverage

Got Medicaid Questions? Get Answers!

Make sure your address is updated to stay informed. We’re here to help. You can contact our insurance assistance team at any of our locations and stop-by our upcoming events: