May 2, 2023 – As the COVID-19 pandemic policy of pausing annual Medicaid renewals for customers comes to an end, the State is reminding eligible Illinois Medicaid customers to complete their renewals. The first week of May is a critical time, as the first round of customers to go through the resumed renewal process will be receiving time-sensitive redetermination notices in the mail.
In Illinois, there will not be a “coverage cliff,” where everyone loses coverage at one time. Rather, redeterminations will happen on a rolling basis through mid-2024. Everybody’s due date is different, and all Illinois Medicaid customers will have a chance to go through the redetermination process.
“My administration is committed to making this renewal and redetermination process as smooth and efficient as possible, so that every Illinoisan knows the healthcare options that are available to them,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “We’ve been preparing for this moment for many months now, from increasing staffing to our widespread Ready to Renew marketing campaign. And we are collaborating with community health centers, local organizations, and public health partners to deliver resources for Illinois residents that will be most impacted by the restart of the Medicaid redetermination process.”
In the month of June, approximately 113,600 cases in Illinois are up for renewal. The Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS), which administers the Illinois Medicaid program, has conducted an ex parte screening on all cases using electronic data sources and known information to determine the customer’s continued eligibility.
Customers with June renewal dates should keep a close eye on their mailboxes starting this week to see if they were renewed automatically or if they need to take action. If they are required to complete and submit their renewal form and any additional information to determine their eligibility, they must do so by June 1. It’s critical that customers have up-to-date contact information on file with Illinois Medicaid because customers whose eligibility cannot be verified through the ex parte process will be required to complete forms with additional information and submit that to HFS.
Customers who do not respond or are no longer eligible lose their Medicaid coverage a month after their due date. Anyone who is no longer eligible for Medicaid coverage will be notified and will receive information about how to enroll in alternative coverage.
Medicaid customers can be sure they’re ready to renew by visiting abe.illinois.gov and clicking “Manage My Case” to set up an online account. Once there, customers should:
- Verify their mailing address is correct to make sure they get mail from HFS (addresses are listed in the ‘Contact Us’ tab).
- Look up their due date so they know when it is time to renew (due dates are in the ‘Benefit Details’ tab).
- Complete their renewal right away when they are due.
Customers can also call 1-800-843-6154 for help with their renewal.
