To keep your coverage, complete the Illinois Medicaid redetermination form that the Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) mailed you, attach the requested proof of income, identity, and residency, sign and date it, and return it by the deadline printed on the notice. You can submit online, by mail, by fax, or in person. If you do nothing, your benefits end.
Where the Form Comes From and How to Find Your Due Date
HFS mails the redetermination packet to the address on your case about 30 days before your renewal date. The envelope is yellow with red “Action Required” text, so it stands out from ordinary mail.1Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services. Illinois Medicaid and the End of Continuous Coverage FAQ
You can confirm your specific due date by logging into the Application for Benefits Eligibility (ABE) portal at abe.illinois.gov, opening “Manage My Case,” and checking the “Benefit Details” tab.
If the form never arrived or you lost it, call the Department of Human Services Customer Helpline at 1-800-843-6154 for a replacement. For questions about a pending redetermination, the dedicated Medicaid renewal line is 1-866-255-5437.2Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services. Useful Contacts You can also pick up a form at your local Family Community Resource Center; find the nearest office through the DHS locator at dhs.state.il.us.3Illinois Department of Human Services. Office Locator
Documents to Gather Before You Start
Pull everything together before you begin. Missing paperwork is the most common reason renewals stall, and once a caseworker flags your file, you have only 10 calendar days to produce the missing items.4Illinois Department of Human Services. WAG 02-07-02 – Obtaining Verifications
Identity and Household
Have Social Security numbers and dates of birth ready for every person on your case. If anyone joined or left the household since your last renewal, bring documentation: a birth certificate for a new child, or proof that a former member has moved out.
Income
For employed household members, one recent paystub is enough. You do not need a full month. For unearned income such as Social Security Disability or child support, one proof of payment is sufficient even if payments come more often than monthly. Self-employment is the exception; you need records covering the whole month.5Illinois Department of Human Services. MR 21.18 Proof of Income for Medical Programs
Illinois counts income under Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) rules for most Medicaid programs. Pre-tax payroll deductions such as health insurance premiums, retirement contributions, and FSA contributions are subtracted before income is counted, so MAGI generally tracks your taxable wages (Box 1 on a W-2) rather than the top line on your paystub.6Illinois Department of Human Services. PM 08-03-00 – MAGI Budgeting
Residency
Attach proof that you live in Illinois. A current lease, a utility bill dated within the last month, or similar paperwork showing your name and Illinois address works.
Assets (AABD Cases Only)
Most Medicaid enrollees under MAGI rules have no asset test. If you receive benefits through the Aid to the Aged, Blind, or Disabled (AABD) program, you must report bank balances, investment accounts, and other countable resources. The current AABD medical asset limit is $17,500 regardless of household size.7Illinois Department of Human Services. PM 07-02-01 – Asset Limits
Filling Out the Form
The form walks through household composition, income, and your living situation. List everyone who currently lives in your home, even people who are not on your Medicaid case. Household size directly affects the federal poverty level used to judge eligibility.
Enter actual income amounts, not rounded estimates, and make sure every figure matches the supporting documents you are attaching. If you pay for recurring medical expenses or child care, enter those where the form asks; they can reduce your countable income.
Sign and date the form. Paper copies need a handwritten signature; the online version uses an electronic signature with the same legal weight. An unsigned or undated form will be rejected. Confirm the date falls inside the renewal window printed on your notice.
Four Ways to Submit
Return the completed packet one of these ways:
- Online. Log into the ABE portal at abe.illinois.gov, finish the renewal through “Manage My Case,” and upload scanned copies of your documents. You can also upload documents separately through the secure portal at medredes.hfs.illinois.gov. Save or print the confirmation page as your receipt.
- Mail. Send the signed form and copies of all supporting documents to the Central Scanning Office at P.O. Box 19138, Springfield, IL 62763. Use certified mail or a tracked service so you have proof of delivery.
- Fax. Fax the complete packet to HFS at 1-844-736-3563. Keep the transmission confirmation sheet.
- In person. Drop paperwork off at any Family Community Resource Center. Staff can confirm receipt on the spot.
Whichever route you choose, keep a full copy of everything you send. If a document goes missing in transit, that copy is the fastest way to fix the problem.
After You Submit
Check for updates by logging into ABE and reviewing your messages and account status. HFS will mail a formal Notice of Decision stating whether your benefits are renewed, changed, or terminated.
If a caseworker needs something you did not include, you will get a Verification Checklist (Form IL444-0267) giving you 10 calendar days to supply it.4Illinois Department of Human Services. WAG 02-07-02 – Obtaining Verifications Respond right away; waiting until day nine leaves no room for a mail delay. If you submitted online, save your digital confirmation ID in case you need to follow up by phone.
If You Miss the Deadline
Missing the renewal date does not end coverage overnight. HFS extends cancellation by roughly 30 days as a grace period, giving you additional time to submit.1Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services. Illinois Medicaid and the End of Continuous Coverage FAQ
If you still miss that extended window and coverage is terminated, you have 90 days from the first day of coverage loss to submit your renewal for possible reinstatement. HFS reviews these case by case, but if you are reinstated, coverage is retroactive to your original renewal date, so the state covers healthcare costs incurred during the gap.1Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services. Illinois Medicaid and the End of Continuous Coverage FAQ
After 90 days, reinstatement is off the table and you must start over with a new Medicaid application. Submit the redetermination even if you are past due; a late renewal is far easier than a fresh application.
If Your Renewal Is Denied or Benefits Are Reduced
You can request a State Fair Hearing. The Notice of Decision must spell out the specific reasons for the action, the regulations supporting it, and how to appeal.8eCFR. 42 CFR 431.210 – Content of Notice
If you are enrolled in a Medicaid managed care plan, you typically go through the plan’s internal appeal first. After the plan’s written resolution, you have 120 calendar days to request a State Fair Hearing. To keep benefits running during the hearing, file that request within 10 calendar days of the plan’s resolution notice.9Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services. How Illinois Medicaid MCO Enrollees Can File Grievance or Appeal
If You Lose Coverage
Losing Medicaid triggers a Special Enrollment Period on the marketplace. Through Get Covered Illinois (getcovered.illinois.gov), you have 90 days from the date your Medicaid ends to pick a private plan, and you may qualify for premium subsidies based on income.10Get Covered Illinois. Life Changes and Special Enrollment Wait for a final decision on your Medicaid eligibility before dropping any other coverage, since you may still be reinstated within the 90-day window above.