Renew Your Medicaid Coverage
Here is everything you need to know about the Medicaid renewal process
Every year, everyone with Medicaid needs to go through a renewal process to keep their coverage. You have not had to renew your Medicaid since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Now Illinois is starting renewals again to make sure all members are still eligible for coverage. Everybody’s renewal date is different, so it is important that you get ready to renew now. Learn what you need to do.
We're here to help you renew your medicaid coverage:
Log in to HFS Manage My Case
Verify your address
If you have Medicaid coverage, it is important to keep your address up to date. This is because important documents, like your renewal form, come in the mail.
To verify your address in HFS Manage My Case, log in to your account.
In the portal, click “Contact Us.” Then check or update your household information.
You can also verify your address over the phone. Call 1-800-843-6154 (TTY: 1-866-3245553), Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. CST.
These links will direct you to the website run by the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS).
Find your due date
You need to renew your Medicaid coverage once per year. You can find your next due date, also called a redetermination date, through HFS Manage My Case. First, log in or create an account. Then, click on the “Benefit Details” tab to see when your renewal date is.
Want reminders when it’s time to renew? Click on the “Account Management” tab in Manage My Case. Under “Manage your communications preferences,” opt in for text and email alerts.
These links will direct you to the website run by the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS).
Watch your mail for this envelope
Complete your renewal
Your letter may say you need to complete a renewal form in order to keep your coverage. Be sure to fill out and turn in your form before your due date (redetermination date) to avoid losing your Medicaid benefits.
Your form will ask you to provide information about your family and finances. Learn more about the information and documents you may need to fill out your form.
You can choose how to complete and submit your renewal form.
You can fill out your renewal form online through your Manage My Case portal. Log in or create an account.
Fill out the form you got with your letter and use the prepaid envelope to mail it back.
You can provide all of your renewal information over the phone. Call HFS toll-free at 1-800-843-6154 (TTY: 1-866-324-5553), Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. CST.
These links will direct you to the website run by the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS).
Your renewal form will ask you for information about your family and finances. You may need to provide documents for some items. You will likely need:
- The name, date of birth, and Social Security number of each person in your household who is on your plan
- The immigration status for anyone in your household who is not a U.S. citizen
- Information about your household’s income. This includes money earned from a job or any child or spousal support you get. You may need to include paystubs or other documents with your form
- Information about your household’s assets. This includes how much money you have in the bank
- Information about your monthly expenses. This could include your housing costs, utility bills, and any daycare expenses you have
Renew to keep all of your benefits
Renewing your Medicaid coverage means you won’t have any interruption in your benefits. If you and your family requalify for Medicaid, you will keep all of the benefits you have with your plan:
No-cost medical, dental, vision, and mental health care
No-cost prescriptions from local pharmacies
Free rides to the doctor or pharmacy
One-on-one care coordination
Special programs to help you manage a chronic condition
Connections to resources in your community
Questions about what your Meridian health insurance covers? Call us at 1-855-580-1689 (TTY: 711), Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. On weekends and on state or federal holidays, you may be asked to leave a message. Your call will be returned within the next business day.
What happens next
After you submit your renewal form, the state’s Medicaid office at HFS will let you know if you’re still eligible for Medicaid. If you are, you don’t have to do anything else—you’re covered!
If you are no longer eligible for Medicaid, don’t worry. You may be able to connect to coverage through the official Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) Marketplace for Illinois.
Eligible for Medicare? Wellcare offers a range of Medicare plans, generally available to people age 65 and older. Wellcare’s plans include Medicare Advantage and Prescription Drug Plans. With Wellcare, you get low monthly premiums and extra benefits and support to help you get the care you need.
Meridian Medicare-Medicaid Plan (MMP) Redetermination FAQs
Renewing your Medicaid is how you can keep the Medicaid portion of your health insurance for another year.
Every year, everyone with Medicaid needs to go through a renewal process to keep their coverage. You have not had to renew your Medicaid since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Now Illinois is starting renewals again to make sure all members are still eligible for coverage. Everybody’s renewal date is different, so it is important that you get ready to renew now.
Your renewal is due once per year. To find your due date (also called a redetermination date), log in to HFS’s Manage My Case at abe.illinois.gov. Then, click on the “Benefit Details” tab. Do you want reminders when it’s time to renew? Opt-in for text and email alerts in the “Account Management” tab under “Manage your communications preferences.”
Manage My Case is an online portal run by the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS). Manage My Case allows you to stay informed on the status of your benefits and manage your case information, all with fewer trips to your local benefits office.
You can verify your address in HFS’s Manage My Case. Log in or create an account. Then, click “Contact Us” and check your household information. You can also verify your address over the phone. Call 1-800-843-6154 (TTY: 1-866-324-5553), Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Your renewal form will ask you for information about your family and finances. You may need to provide documents for some items. You will likely need:
- The name, date of birth, and Social Security number of each person in your household who is on your plan
- The immigration status for anyone in your household who is not a U.S. citizen
- Information about your household’s income. This includes money earned from a job or any child or spousal support you get. You may need to include paystubs or other documents with your form
- Information about your household’s assets. This includes how much money you have in the bank
- Information about your monthly expenses. This could include your housing costs and utility bills.
You will have about one month to complete and submit your form. To find your due date, also called a redetermination date, log in to HFS’s Manage My Case. Click on the “Benefit Details” tab to see when your renewal date is.
No. You just need to fill out one form for your whole household.
Yes. You will have coverage until you get your decision. If you requalify, then you have coverage for another year. If you don’t, then the decision letter will tell you when your Medicare-Medicaid coverage will end. You will usually have 30 to 60 days to enroll in another plan.
You may be eligible for Medicare. Medicare provides healthcare coverage for people who are 65 or older or who have certain disabilities or medical conditions.
Learn more about Medicare and explore plans.
If you are under the age of 65, you may be able to connect to coverage at work or through the official Affordable Care Act Marketplace for Illinois at GetCoveredIllinois.gov.
Beware of scams. Illinois will never ask you for money to renew or apply for Medicaid. Report scams to the fraud report website or the Medicaid fraud hotline at 1-844-453-7283/1-844-ILFRAUD.