About 9,300 lawfully present immigrants in Illinois lost Medicaid coverage after federal eligibility changes took effect Oct. 1, 2026. A special enrollment period offers affected residents a way to seek private health insurance through Dec. 31, with possible financial assistance and coverage dating back to October.
If you lost Medicaid in Illinois because of the Oct. 1 federal changes, you may qualify for a health insurance plan through Get Covered Illinois, the state’s official marketplace. The special enrollment period ends Dec. 31, 2026, and is available to eligible residents across the state, including the Illinois Quad Cities.
This is an opportunity to enroll in a marketplace health plan, not an automatic reinstatement of Medicaid. The deadline also does not apply to everyone who loses Medicaid for other reasons.
Federal Medicaid changes affect specific immigrant groups
The federal changes ended regular Medicaid eligibility for certain noncitizens, including some refugees, people granted asylum, humanitarian parolees and survivors of domestic violence or human trafficking.
According to the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services, several groups may remain eligible for Medicaid under applicable program rules. They include:
- Lawful permanent residents who meet or are exempt from the applicable five-year waiting period.
- Certain Cuban and Haitian entrants.
- Eligible migrants from the Marshall Islands, Micronesia and Palau.
- Children younger than 19 and pregnant people who qualify for applicable programs.
- People eligible for certain state-funded health benefit programs.
Eligibility depends on each person’s circumstances and the requirements of the relevant program.
Residents who are unsure whether their Medicaid coverage ended can call the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services at 1-800-843-6154 or review their case through ABE Illinois.
Eligible applicants can request coverage dating back to Oct. 1
Under this special enrollment period, eligible residents who sign up after Oct. 1 can choose a marketplace plan with a coverage start date as early as Oct. 1, 2026.
That option could help address the gap left when Medicaid coverage ended Sept. 30. However, applicants should confirm how the insurer would handle medical expenses incurred before enrollment.
They should also ask whether choosing an earlier effective date would require premium payments for previous months. Coverage and claims depend on the selected plan and its terms.
Some applicants may qualify for premium tax credits that lower their monthly insurance costs through the end of 2026. Financial assistance is determined by eligibility rules and household information; it is not guaranteed for everyone who applies.
The state explains the program on its official Medicaid special enrollment page.
How to apply for coverage through Get Covered Illinois
Residents can begin or complete their application through Get Covered Illinois.
- Confirm the Medicaid termination. Check the state notice or contact the Medicaid office to verify when and why coverage ended.
- Log in or create an account. Start an application and report the loss of Medicaid coverage.
- Provide household information. Have income, employment, current or previous insurance information and applicable immigration documents available. Social Security information may also be requested when applicable.
- Compare plans. Check monthly premiums, deductibles, copayments, prescription coverage and whether preferred doctors and hospitals are in the network.
- Select a plan and confirm its start date. Ask about retroactive coverage if you qualify for the Oct. 1 option.
- Make the first premium payment. Follow the insurer’s payment instructions to activate coverage.
Applicants should keep their Medicaid termination notice and any messages received through Get Covered Illinois. Additional documentation may be requested to verify eligibility.
The state provides further instructions in its enrollment guide.
Some premium tax credits will end Jan. 1, 2027
People who obtain marketplace insurance for the final months of 2026 should review their expected costs for the following year.
Federal changes will eliminate eligibility for premium tax credits for certain noncitizens beginning Jan. 1, 2027, even if they qualified for assistance in 2026.
Get Covered Illinois identifies lawful permanent residents, qualifying Cuban and Haitian entrants, and citizens of the Marshall Islands, Micronesia and Palau as groups that may continue qualifying for financial help in 2027, subject to other eligibility requirements.
The marketplace also states that people who enroll through this special period will be automatically renewed into the same plan for 2027 if that plan remains available.
Automatic renewal does not guarantee the same monthly premium. A person could remain enrolled while losing financial assistance that reduced the cost of coverage.
Residents should review their 2027 eligibility and premiums before the new year. The state says noncitizens may cancel a marketplace plan without penalty.
Get Covered Illinois also advises certain noncitizens receiving premium tax credits or cost-sharing reductions to consult a qualified immigration legal services provider if they have concerns about federal public charge rule changes while seeking admission to the United States or permanent residency.
Other Medicaid losses follow different enrollment deadlines
The Dec. 31 special deadline applies to people affected by the Oct. 1 federal eligibility changes. Residents who lose Medicaid or All Kids for other qualifying reasons generally follow different rules.
Under the state’s regular special enrollment rules, someone losing Medicaid or All Kids can generally enroll in a marketplace plan up to 60 days before or 90 days after the loss of coverage.
Those plans generally begin on the first day of the month after the relevant coverage loss or plan selection. They do not automatically qualify for the special retroactive Oct. 1 start date.
Illinois also has a separate open enrollment schedule for 2027:
- Dec. 15, 2026: Deadline to select a 2027 plan for coverage beginning Jan. 1, provided the first premium is paid.
- Dec. 31, 2026: Final day of the special 2026 enrollment window for certain residents who lost Medicaid because of the Oct. 1 changes.
- Jan. 15, 2027: Final day of regular open enrollment for 2027. Coverage generally starts Feb. 1 for people who enroll after Dec. 15.
Residents who need coverage for both the remainder of 2026 and the following year should review each enrollment period separately.
Free enrollment assistance is available in Spanish
Get Covered Illinois offers free assistance from certified navigators and interpreters. Residents can get help understanding eligibility, comparing plans and completing applications.
Get Covered Illinois: 1-866-311-1119 (TTY: 711).
Illinois Medicaid coverage questions: 1-800-843-6154.
People in Rock Island, Moline, East Moline and other Illinois communities can search for certified local enrollment assistance. Language assistance, including Spanish interpretation, is available at no cost.
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