How to Renew Your Medicaid Benefits in Illinois

To renew Medicaid in Illinois, watch your mail for a renewal notice from the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) about a month before your personal due date, complete the pre-filled form it contains, and return it by that date through the ABE online portal, by mail, by fax, by phone, or in person at a DHS office.¹ Illinois runs renewals on a rolling basis, so your due date is specific to you and will not match anyone else’s.² If you don’t respond, your coverage ends automatically.

Keep Your Address Current So the Notice Reaches You

Your renewal starts with a letter in the mail, so the single most important thing you can do before your due date approaches is confirm the state has your current address. A missed notice because of an outdated address is one of the most common reasons people lose coverage they still qualify for.

Update your address through the Application for Benefits Eligibility (ABE) portal at abe.illinois.gov under “Manage My Case,” or submit the Medicaid Address Change Form from the HFS website.³ The envelope that eventually arrives is plain black and white with the State of Illinois seal and the phrase “Important Information About Your Coverage” printed in several languages on the front. Inside, the letter states your specific due date and the exact return address and fax number for your case.⁴

You May Be Renewed Automatically Without a Form

Before HFS asks you to do anything, it tries to confirm your eligibility on its own using electronic data: wage records, Social Security income data, and information from programs like SNAP. This is called an ex parte renewal. If the data confirms you still qualify, you’ll get a notice saying you’ve been automatically renewed and no action is required.⁵ Your coverage simply continues with a new certification period.

If you do receive a renewal packet, it means the automatic check didn’t have enough information to keep your coverage going without your input. At that point the form is on you.

What to Gather Before You Fill Out the Form

The form arrives pre-filled with information the state already has. Read every field, correct anything that’s wrong, and attach proof of any change.⁶ Even if nothing has changed, you still have to return the form by the due date.

Expect to provide:

Proof of income — recent pay stubs covering the four weeks before the date on your notice, a prior-year federal tax return, W-2 or 1099 forms, or a Social Security award letter or annual benefit statement.⁷
Social Security numbers for each household member on the plan, documented through a Social Security card, tax return, W-2, pay stub, or SSA paperwork.
Current immigration status documentation for any non-citizen household members included on the case.

Report changes to employment, income, household size, or address accurately. If you receive Medicaid along with SNAP or cash assistance, your redetermination may run every six months rather than annually, and the form comes from the Department of Human Services (DHS) instead of the Medicaid Redetermination Project.⁶

Four Ways to Submit Your Renewal

Online. Log in to abe.illinois.gov, select “Manage My Case,” and complete the renewal there. This is the fastest option.⁸
Mail. Return the completed form to the address printed on your letter. For Medicaid-only recipients, that’s typically the Illinois Redetermination Project, PO Box 1242, Chicago, IL 60690. If you also receive SNAP or cash assistance, your letter lists a DHS address instead.⁶
Fax. Medicaid-only recipients can fax to 1-866-661-7025. Use the number on your letter if it differs.
Phone. Call the DHS Customer Help Line at 1-800-843-6154 (TTY: 1-866-324-5553) and complete your renewal with a representative.⁹
In person. Drop paperwork off at a local DHS Family Community Resource Center.

Always use the specific return address and fax number on your own letter. They can vary based on which programs you receive.

Check Your Status After You Submit

Track your case through the ABE portal under “Manage My Case” by selecting the “Benefit Details” tab, or call 1-800-843-6154 to ask.⁸ HFS sends its decision by mail. If the state needs more information, you’ll get a written request. Respond quickly, because delays can create a gap in your coverage.

If You Miss Your Due Date

A missed deadline isn’t necessarily permanent. If you submit your renewal within 90 days of the first day your coverage lapsed, HFS can reinstate your Medicaid retroactively to your original due date, as long as you still meet the eligibility rules.² Treat that window as a safety net, not a plan. During the gap your coverage is inactive, which creates real problems if you need prescriptions filled or specialist care.

If You’re Denied, You Can Appeal

If HFS says you’re no longer eligible, you can request a fair hearing. In Illinois, the deadline for medical benefit appeals is 60 calendar days from the date on the denial or termination notice.¹⁰ File by mail, fax, phone, or in person at a DHS office. The clock starts the day after the date printed on your notice.

Timing matters. If you request a hearing before the date your benefits are scheduled to end, your Medicaid coverage generally continues while the appeal is pending.¹¹ Wait until after your benefits are cut off and you may not get that protection. One caveat: if the hearing decision ultimately goes against you, the state can seek repayment for the cost of benefits provided during the appeal period.

If You No Longer Qualify, Act Within the Enrollment Windows

If your income rose or your circumstances changed and you genuinely don’t qualify anymore, losing Medicaid opens special enrollment windows elsewhere.

Marketplace coverage: losing Medicaid qualifies you for a Special Enrollment Period through Get Covered Illinois or HealthCare.gov. You have 90 days from your coverage loss to pick a plan, and depending on your income you may qualify for premium tax credits that cut the monthly cost.¹²
Employer-sponsored insurance: if you or a family member has access to a job-based plan, losing Medicaid triggers a special enrollment window. You generally have 30 days from the date you lose coverage to request enrollment through your employer.¹³

These windows exist specifically to prevent a coverage gap. Don’t let either one pass without acting.

Where to Get Help

HFS Medicaid renewal line: 1-866-255-5437 (TTY: 1-877-204-1012).¹
DHS Customer Help Line: 1-800-843-6154 (TTY: 1-866-324-5553), Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.⁹
In person: a local DHS Family Community Resource Center for face-to-face help with the paperwork.
Online: abe.illinois.gov to check your due date, confirm your address, and complete the renewal.³

Community organizations and legal aid offices across Illinois also help with public benefits renewals at no cost, and they can advocate on your behalf or help you file an appeal if your renewal was handled incorrectly.

1
Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services. Renewing My Medicaid
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Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services. Illinois Medicaid and the End of Continuous Coverage FAQ
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Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services. Report Medicaid Change of Address
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Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services. Ready to Renew Messaging Toolkit
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Illinois Department of Human Services. WAG 19-02-04-a Ex Parte Redeterminations
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Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services. Staying In The System
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Get Covered Illinois. Required Documents to Verify Information Included on Your Application
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Illinois.gov. IL Application for Benefits Eligibility (ABE) Home Page
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Illinois Department of Human Services. Contact IDHS
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Illinois Department of Human Services. PM 01-07-03 Time Period to File Appeal
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eCFR. Subpart E Fair Hearings for Applicants and Beneficiaries
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Get Covered Illinois. Life Changes and Special Enrollment
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U.S. Department of Labor. Fact Sheet What To Do If Your Health Coverage Can No Longer Pay Benefits