Medicaid Healthcare

You must meet certain requirements to be eligible for Medicaid and receive benefits. Eligibility is determined by the following factors:

• Residency
• Citizenship and immigrant status (Immigrants who do not meet eligibility rules may be eligible for Emergency Medical Assistance (EMA) if they otherwise meet all Medicaid eligibility standards)
• Tax filing status
• Household size/composition
• Income

Children under the age of 18 regardless of their immigration status can apply in the State of Illinois. Undocumented older adults over the age of 65 can apply in the State of Illinois.

You may need the following document to apply:

• Proof of identity for head of household
• Social security numbers for everyone who is applying for benefits
• Proof of earned income from the past 30 days
• Proof of Illinois residency (ex. State ID, utility bill, rental lease)
• Proof of citizenship/immigration status (ex. birth certificate, passport, legal permanent resident card, etc.)

You should receive a letter with a decision within 45-60 days of submitting your application. If you are denied, you will receive a reason for denial. If you are approved, you should receive your Medicaid medical card within 7-10 business days.

No. Undocumented immigrants that are at least 42 years old are eligible for Medicaid. This program does not count as a negative factor for public charge. The program may cover prior health care up to 3 months from the date you apply.

You can request to have a new card mailed out from your local Department of Human Services Office. You can also visit the ABE site to download a copy from the Manage My Case Portal.