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Medicaid in the State of Illinois

Medicaid is a government health care program providing coverage for low-income individuals and families. States and the federal government jointly provide funding for Medicaid programs, though program administration occurs exclusively at the state level. In Illinois, the state Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) administers an interrelated web of Medicaid programs for low-income individuals and families. Eligibility requirements for these programs vary though all hinge on income.

  1. Programs

    • Among the Medicaid programs available in Illinois are MediPlan, Family Care, All Kids and Senior Care. All Kids incorporates a plan previously known as KidsCare. KidsCare provided benefits to the children of low-income families. This is now done through the All Family program. Family Care provides coverage for parents of guardians with children age 18 or younger. Children age 18 or younger receive Medicaid coverage in Illinois through the All Kids program and related programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), a food stamp and medical assistance program.

    Eligiblity

    • Illinois requires all Medicaid applicants be United States citizens and Illinois residents. All Kids provides applicants with a complex chart showing income requirements and required co-pays for families with one to five children earning from $1,200 to $17,194 monthly as of 2011. The more a family makes, the less coverage the state provides. The same scheme applies to Family Care, which provides four types of plans, the income requirements and cost of each of which varies contingent upon the number of members in a family. Senior Care requires individuals to have an income of less than $27,066 per year as of 2011, or $36,560 for couples. Though each Illinois plan has separate eligibility requirements, all hinge on income. Contact the state directly for income requirement levels.

    Benefits

    • MediPlan provides participants with cards each month; a list printed on these cards details all the medical permissions of the cardholder, from emergency care to full coverage. MediPlan provides temporary benefits on a monthly basis with eligibility requirements contingent upon the individual. Family Care covers benefits such as dental care, doctor visits, prescription drugs, emergency services and hospital visits. All Kids provides similar care, with special programs for newborn babies, young mothers and pregnant women. The extent of care available to program participants varies contingent upon the plan in which the individual is enrolled. SNAP provides food stamps and cash assistance for medical costs; though it is not technically a Medicaid program, it serves a similar purpose.

    Prescription Drugs

    • Illinois Medicaid programs cover all prescription drugs and some over-the-counter drug products; senior care exists exclusively for this purpose. Illinois Medicaid requires policyholders to purchase certain brands of drugs provided availability. The preferred drug list is 17 pages long and covers prenatal vitamins, sedatives, muscle relaxants, antibiotics, anticholerics, Alzheimer's agents and many more items. If preferred drug brands prove unavailable or if extenuating circumstances such as allergies prevent individuals from taking a preferred drug, like products may be substituted.

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