How to Get Disability to Cover Health Insurance Needs in Illinois

Disabled individuals in Illinois must sign up for the Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) Medical Benefits program in order to have their health insurance needs met by the state. Medical coverage includes hospital and emergency room care, doctor visits, prescription drugs, long-term care and purchase of durable medical equipment.

Things You'll Need

• Application
• Stamp
• Envelope
• Required documents
• Address of your local Family Community Resource Center

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Instructions

• 1

  Ensure that you meet the basic eligibility criteria, including that you are have a permanent disability, that you reside in Illinois and that you are a U.S. citizen or qualified non-citizen.

• 2

  Check to see if you meet the income guidelines. If you live alone, your monthly income cannot exceed $903. A two-person family can make up to $1,214 a month; a three-person family can make up to $1,526 a month; and a four-person family can make up to $1,838 a month. For families larger than four people, add another $312 per person, per month to this limit. These income guidelines are for the year 2010.

• 3

  Add up your assets to make sure they fall within the program limits. For a single person, this limit is $2,000. For a married couple, this limit is $3,000. There are certain items that are exempt from this limit, including your family home, personal belongings and household goods, items used to earn an income, one family vehicle, life insurance policies up to $1,500 and all term policies and burial funds.

• 4

  Download an HFS Medical Benefits program application and fill it out completely. Include copies of documents you are asked to supply to verify residency, citizenship status and income.

• 5

  Mail your application and copies of your documents to the Illinois Department of Human Services Family Community Resource Center or drop it off directly at a local office.

• 6

  Wait for your application to be processed and to receive notification of approval.