If you received an HFS 2381C notice telling you to take action, your Illinois Medicaid renewal form is the Form 643 or Form 1893 enclosed in the same envelope. Fill it out using your household’s current income, Social Security numbers, and residency information, then return it to the Department of Human Services online at abe.illinois.gov, by mail in the pre-addressed envelope, by phone at 1-800-843-6154, or in person at a Family Community Resource Center before the due date printed on your notice.
Which Paper Is the Renewal Form
Two different documents arrive together, and only one of them is the form you complete. The HFS 2381C is a cover notice explaining your redetermination status. It tells you which members of your household the state was able to renew automatically and which ones still need to submit information. As of August 2024, this single dynamic notice replaced the older 2381, 2381A, and 2381B forms.1Illinois Department of Human Services. MR 24.26 Medical Redetermination Updates
The actual renewal form, Form 643 or Form 1893 depending on which program you’re in, is included in the same mailing when action is required. Do not send back the 2381C notice itself. If you mail it in, a caseworker will scan it for any notes you wrote on it, but it is not the document that processes your renewal.1Illinois Department of Human Services. MR 24.26 Medical Redetermination Updates
Your renewal due date appears on the 2381C and in your online account. To confirm it, log in at abe.illinois.gov, open Manage My Case, and look under the Benefit Details tab for your redetermination date.2Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services. Ready to Renew Messaging Toolkit
If your 2381C says your coverage was renewed and no action is required, you’re done. Keep the notice for your records. The rest of this guide is for people whose notice asks them to complete the enclosed form.
What to Gather Before You Start
Pull these together before you open the form. Having everything in one place keeps you from stopping halfway through:
- Social Security numbers and dates of birth for every household member.
- Income records for all adults, and for minors age 14 or older who are required to file a tax return. Recent pay stubs, W-2s, or wage statements work.
- Your case number, printed on the 2381C notice and visible in your ABE account.
- Proof of Illinois residency if requested, such as a utility bill or lease.
- Immigration documents for any legal immigrants in the household, such as a passport, alien card, or immigration number.
- Employer health insurance details, including policy number and provider name, for anyone in the household who gained access to private coverage since your last renewal.
Check the household composition section carefully. Adding or removing a person changes the income threshold the state applies to your case, and an outdated household size can lead to an incorrect denial.
How Income Is Measured
Income is the section where mistakes do the most damage. For most adults, Illinois uses Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) and compares it against 138% of the federal poverty level. Based on the 2026 federal poverty guidelines, 138% works out to roughly $22,024 per year for a single adult and about $45,540 for a family of four.3U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. 2026 Poverty Guidelines DHS publishes monthly income limits by household size that already reflect a built-in 5% income disregard.4Illinois Department of Human Services. WAG 25-03-02 (2) Medical FPLs
Children qualify at higher income levels, up to 318% FPL for All Kids, and pregnant individuals qualify up to 213% FPL. If anyone in your household is age 65 or older, blind, or disabled, the state may also ask about countable assets such as bank accounts, property, or vehicles. These non-MAGI categories carry resource limits that do not apply to standard adult or children’s Medicaid.
Four Ways to Submit the Form
All four methods reach the same system. Pick whichever one fits your situation.
Online Through ABE
Online is the fastest route. Log in at abe.illinois.gov, open Manage My Case, and follow the prompts. You can upload scanned copies or clear phone photos of your supporting documents. When you submit, the portal generates a confirmation screen; screenshot or save it.2Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services. Ready to Renew Messaging Toolkit
By Mail
Fill out the paper form, attach copies (never originals) of your supporting documents, and send everything back in the pre-addressed envelope that came with your notice. If you lost the envelope, the return address is printed on the form itself. Keep copies of what you send, and consider certified mail or a tracking service so you have proof of the mailing date.
By Phone
Call the DHS Help Line at 1-800-843-6154 to complete the renewal with a representative. HFS also runs a dedicated Medicaid renewal line at 1-866-255-5437 (TTY 1-877-204-1012), available Monday through Friday.
In Person
Bring your completed paperwork to a DHS Family Community Resource Center. Most offices have secure drop boxes, so you don’t have to wait for a representative. The DHS office locator lets you find the closest one by county, or by ZIP code within Cook County.5Illinois Department of Human Services. Office Locator
After You Submit
A caseworker reviews what you sent and compares it against available records. If something is missing or doesn’t match, the caseworker contacts you using the phone number and address on your form, which is why keeping that contact information current matters. The state then mails a written decision telling you whether your coverage is approved for another 12 months, moved to a different program category, or still pending additional information.
You can watch your case status in real time through Manage My Case at abe.illinois.gov. When your renewal is approved, the new 12-month certification period picks up at the end of your current one, so there is no gap.
If You Miss the Due Date
Missing the date on your 2381C does not immediately end your coverage. HFS adds a 30-day grace period before canceling a case, which pushes the termination out by roughly a month.6Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services. Illinois Medicaid and the End of Continuous Coverage FAQ
Even after cancellation, you have another window. If you submit your renewal within 90 days of your first day of coverage loss, the state reviews your case individually, and if you’re reinstated, coverage is retroactive to your original renewal due date. The state will pay for care you received during the gap.6Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services. Illinois Medicaid and the End of Continuous Coverage FAQ
Past 90 days, reinstatement is off the table. You have to file a new application through ABE, the DHS Help Line, or a Family Community Resource Center. Submitting late is almost always better than not submitting at all.
If Your Renewal Is Denied
The decision notice explains your right to a fair hearing. You have 60 days from the date of the state’s action to file an appeal.7Illinois General Assembly. Illinois Administrative Code Title 89 Part 14
A tighter deadline governs whether your benefits keep running during the appeal. If you request a hearing before the cutoff date printed on your notice, your Medicaid coverage continues unchanged while the appeal is pending. One catch: if you lose the appeal, the state can require you to repay the value of benefits you received during that period.8Illinois Department of Human Services. Appeals and Fair Hearings for Those Receiving Cash, SNAP, or Medical Assistance
Once you file, the local DHS office schedules a pre-hearing meeting within 10 days to try to resolve the issue informally. If that doesn’t settle it, a hearing is held in your county, either in person or by phone, and the state must issue a final decision within 90 days of receiving your appeal.7Illinois General Assembly. Illinois Administrative Code Title 89 Part 14