February 9, 2021

Dear friends,

We at Champaign County Health Care Consumers (CCHCC) are happy to share some good news with you regarding the State of Illinois Medicaid program, and the Affordable Care Act’s Marketplace for health insurance!

You can help our community members by sharing this information and letting people know that if they need help with health insurance, they can contact CCHCC for help. Below are the updates CCHCC wants to share with you.

Enrollment for Illinois Medicaid is open year-round!
CCHCC wants to remind everyone that enrollment in Medicaid is open year-round! There is no particular open enrollment period, so people can apply year-round, and CCHCC can help! As an example of who can qualify for Medicaid in Illinois – an individual earning less than $17,609 annually is eligible for Medicaid. A couple earning less than $23,791, is eligible for Medicaid.

And, Medicaid has NO monthly premiums, NO deductibles, and very low or no co-pays for doctors’ visits and prescriptions.  

IL Medicaid has been expanded to cover elderly low-income immigrants!
Illinois has made history as the first state in the nation to extend health insurance coverage to immigrant seniors! As of December 1, 2020, low-income immigrant seniors can qualify for Medicaid coverage. A social security number is NOT required! CCHCC can provide free help with those enrollments.

An estimated 3,986 undocumented seniors live in Illinois, and they are generally not eligible for any other health insurance coverage. Approximately 16% of Illinois immigrants who are 55 or older live in poverty, compared to 11% of the native-born population.

In order to qualify for the newly-expanded Medicaid, undocumented or other immigrant seniors must be age 65 or older, and they must have an income at, or below, the federal poverty level, which is $12,670 for an individual, or $17,240 for a couple.

This is the time of year to make sure Medicaid beneficiaries have a Medicaid Managed Care plan that works for them!
Most people who qualify for Medicaid in Illinois will be asked to sign up for a Medicaid Managed Care plan. It is very important that Medicaid beneficiaries choose a plan that meets their needs – a plan that covers the healthcare providers the person wants to see, and the prescriptions that the person needs. Just like any other health insurance plan, Medicaid Managed Care plans change networks and pharmacies and coverage for prescriptions, so beneficiaries with a Medicaid Managed Care plan need to make sure that their plan still works for them. They will receive a notice in the mail that they can change plans or stay with the plan they currently have. However, it is always important to review the plan you have before choosing to stay with it. You can check your options at enrollhfs.illinois.gov or by calling 1-877-912-8880.

Here is CCHCC’s handout on FAQs about Medicaid Managed Care.

ACA Marketplace – New Open Enrollment Period!
President Joe Biden signed health care-related executive orders that, among other initiatives, will reopen the ACA Marketplace at HealthCare.gov for a special three-month enrollment period starting on Monday, February 15, 2021 and going through May 15, 2021.

This means that Americans without health insurance will have a chance to enrollment in private health insurance plans through the Marketplace (HealthCare.gov) outside the normal November 1 through December 15 Open Enrollment period. This new open enrollment opportunity can offer many people – especially those who have dealt with unemployment or other changes among the COVID-19 pandemic, another chance to get health insurance.

Not sure whether you qualify for health insurance through the ACA Marketplace or through Medicaid?
If you’re not sure whether you qualify for health insurance coverage through the Marketplace or through Medicaid, just contact CCHCC – we can help!

CCHCC staff are still working remotely, but we can be reached by phone or email – just leave a message, and we will get back to you. You can call CCHCC at 217-352-6533 or email at cchcc@cchcc-il.org. Leave a message letting us know what you need help with, and a staff member will get back to you as soon as possible to help you schedule an appointment with one of our Community Health Worker enrollment specialists!

Other ways you can help.
You can help by sharing or posting this message, and by directing your friends, family, and fellow community members to CCHCC if they need help. You can also help by making a contribution to CCHCC to support our work. Our services are provided free of charge.

DONATE NOW!

Best wishes for good health,

Champaign County Health Care Consumers