Medicaid in Illinois: what you may be able to apply for
What it is
Public health insurance for low-income people, jointly funded by the federal and state governments. It covers doctor visits, hospital care, prescriptions, pregnancy, and children's care. States run it under federal rules, and each state has its own name and details (California calls it Medi-Cal).
Illinois Medicaid (via HFS, the Dept. of Healthcare and Family Services); children = All Kids; pregnant = Moms & Babies. State-funded immigrant programs: HBIA (Health Benefits for Immigrant Adults, ages 42-64) ENDED July 1, 2025; HBIS (Health Benefits for Immigrant Seniors, 65+) still covers those already enrolled but has PAUSED new enrollment since Nov 6, 2023. Those with ineligible status can use Emergency Medical for Noncitizens.
Final eligibility is decided by the agency
Policies can change — always check the latest official information.
🔎 Will this affect your green card?
Regular Medicaid does NOT count in the public charge test — receiving it does not affect your green card or immigration application. First, a sentence that may make this whole section irrelevant to you: many people are outside this assessment altogether. The exemption categories Congress created by statute remain in force — DHS said so in the July 20, 2026 rule: what it removed was the list, while "USCIS will provide training and guidance to its officers, including information about which aliens are statutorily exempt from the public charge ground of inadmissibility". ✅ Each of the following rests on its own statute and does not disappear with that list: refugees (8 U.S.C. §1157(c)(3): paragraph (4) of §1182(a) "shall not be applicable"); refugees and asylees adjusting status (§1159(c), same wording); Special Immigrant Juveniles (§1255(h)(2)(A): paragraph (4) "shall not apply"); and VAWA self-petitioners, U nonimmigrant applicants or holders, and battered spouses and children under §1641(c) (§1182(a)(4)(E): "shall not apply"). Battered spouses and children have a second layer of statutory protection: the law forbids considering any public benefits for them (INA §212(s)). If you hold a T visa: the law allows immigration authorities to waive the public charge ground (§1255(l)(2), "may waive") — but that waiver is discretionary; it does not apply automatically as the categories above do. ✅ This does not mean you cannot get a waiver; it means it has to be requested and explained case by case. Have a lawyer help you prepare it. For the full list, and whether you are in it, have a lawyer check. ✅ For what you received before September 18, 2026, the rule considers only two things: (a) public cash assistance for income maintenance (SSI, TANF cash, and state, tribal, territorial or local general-assistance cash) and (b) long-term institutionalization at government expense. Anything outside those two is not counted — that is written into the rule itself and has not changed. But if you did receive (a) or (b) before that date, those are considered; have an attorney look at your specific situation. (This is in the rule itself: it applies only going forward — DHS "will only consider the receipt of public cash assistance for income maintenance and long-term institutionalization at government expense before the effective date".) And if this assessment does apply to you — from September 18, 2026 onwards, things change — means-tested public benefits received on or after that day - that is, the public benefits that look at your income or assets when you apply - and for example SNAP, Medicaid, CHIP and WIC, but not limited to these, because the rule names a whole category rather than a list, and not limited to federal programs either - state, territorial, Tribal and local ones count too (verbatim: "Federal, State, territorial, Tribal, and local programs that provide means-tested public benefits"); if you are not sure whether the one you receive counts, ask a licensed immigration attorney - may be weighed as one of the factors (the rule "will consider the receipt of any means tested public benefits on or after that date"). ✅ It is one factor among many, not an automatic denial. The rule requires each case to be weighed on all of its circumstances. How much weight any one of them carries has not been published — USCIS has not issued its operating guidance. We have not verified it; that is not the same as saying it has changed. If you are applying for a visa abroad, or entering at a port of entry: the above describes USCIS (applications filed inside the United States). The rule itself notes that CBP at a port of entry may consider different information; how consulates abroad apply it, we have not verified. See details →
Who may qualify
Income limit
- Adults 19-64 (ACA expansion)≤ 138% FPLACA adults ≤138% FPL (2026: about $1,835/month for one person). Requires citizen or qualified-noncitizen status (e.g., a green-card holder past the 5-year bar). Undocumented/ineligible adults 19-64 do NOT qualify — after HBIA ended July 1, 2025 there is no state-funded comprehensive coverage, only Emergency Medical for Noncitizens and FQHCs.
- Children 0-18 (under 19, All Kids)≤ 318% FPLChildren under 19 are covered by All Kids, and qualify regardless of immigration status (including undocumented). Per Illinois's current integrated-eligibility (MAGI) policy, the All Kids Assist income standard is 318% FPL (313% plus the 5% standard disregard) — IDHS states plainly, "The MAGI income standard for All Kids Assist is 318% (313% plus 5% standard disregard) of the federal poverty level (FPL)." Be careful about premiums: Illinois historically ran tiered cost-sharing (All Kids Assist free, then Share, then Premium Level 1, then Premium Level 2, with small monthly premiums per child), and HFS's consumer cost page still displays that Assist/Share/Premium chart — but that chart uses a dated income table (HFS form 3711AK, revised April 2019), while the current IDHS eligibility policy sets the All Kids Assist standard itself at 318% FPL. Because these two official sources do not line up on where premiums begin, we ground only the 318% ceiling and the tier names here and do not assert a current per-tier premium schedule — confirm whether and how much your family pays each month with HFS.
Source:Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) · checked 2026-07-16
Official excerpt
“The MAGI income standard for All Kids Assist is 318% (313% plus 5% standard disregard) of the federal poverty level (FPL).”
PM 15-06-01-d: All Kids Assist Standard (Illinois IES Policy Manual) · PM 15-06-01-d
View the official document → (Opens in a new tab) - Pregnancy (any age, Moms & Babies)≤ 213% FPLMoms & Babies covers pregnant people with income ≤213% FPL regardless of immigration status, continuing through 12 months postpartum (babies covered to age 1).
- Aged/Blind/Disabled (65+/AABD, non-MAGI)≤ 100% FPLAABD Medical ≤100% FPL (2026: about $1,330/month for one person, $1,803 for a couple); resource/asset limit $17,500 (2026). Immigration: qualified noncitizens follow the standard rules; undocumented seniors 65+ were previously covered through HBIS (state-funded), but HBIS new enrollment has been paused since Nov 6, 2023 and new applications are not accepted (already-enrolled members continue).
Immigration-status rules in this state
Illinois covers immigrants by group, and its coverage for undocumented adults has been sharply cut back. (1) Children — All Kids covers income-eligible children under 19 regardless of immigration status (HFS states plainly that children who meet the other requirements can get All Kids regardless of immigration status); this continues. (2) Pregnant people — Moms & Babies covers pregnant people regardless of immigration status, continuing through 12 months postpartum; this continues. (3) Adults 42-64 — Illinois previously ran a state-funded program, Health Benefits for Immigrant Adults (HBIA), covering income-eligible noncitizens (including undocumented) regardless of status. Due to the state's FY2026 budget, HBIA ENDED effective July 1, 2025; the last day of HBIA coverage was June 30, 2025. Illinois NO LONGER enrolls or gives comprehensive coverage to undocumented/ineligible adults ages 19-64. People who lost HBIA keep access only to Emergency Medical for Noncitizens (time-limited emergency services, including labor and delivery), Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), and free/charitable clinics; those with a documented status may qualify for the ACA Marketplace. (4) Seniors 65+ — the companion state-funded program, Health Benefits for Immigrant Seniors (HBIS), still covers already-enrolled seniors 65+ regardless of status, but NEW enrollment has been PAUSED since November 6, 2023 — new applications are not accepted. (5) Everyone else — standard, federally funded Illinois Medicaid (ACA adults, AABD) still requires U.S. citizen or qualified-noncitizen status (generally a green-card holder past the 5-year bar, refugees/asylees, etc.). This is a fast-changing, high-stakes area — always check the latest official HFS guidance. Do NOT assume Illinois covers undocumented adults: for ages 42-64 that coverage ended July 1, 2025, and for seniors 65+ new enrollment is closed.
⚖️ Official sources disagree
Official sources disagree, and we list both: HFS's consumer cost page still shows Assist/Share/Premium tiered premiums (built on the 2019 HFS 3711AK income table), while current IDHS policy sets the All Kids Assist standard at 318% FPL. This row grounds the 318% ceiling and describes the tiers honestly without asserting a current per-tier premium schedule.
How Much Does It Cost? (All Kids) — consumer cost chart; income table on HFS form 3711AK (R-04-19), demonstrably dated — checked 2026-07-16 (Opens in a new tab)Don't rely on just one — read both, or confirm with the agency that handles your case.
How to apply
What you'll need
Proof of identity, income, Illinois residency, and household size; immigration documents as applicable. All Kids children and Moms & Babies pregnant people are not denied for lack of a qualifying immigration status. See official HFS guidance and the ABE apply page for the exact document list.
Timeline
Under federal Medicaid rules, an eligibility decision is generally made within 45 days (up to 90 days for disability-based cases); retroactive coverage for up to 3 months before the application month. Confirm IL-specific timing with the official program.
Go to the official application → (Opens in a new tab)ABE (Application for Benefits Eligibility, official online portal abe.illinois.gov) · also by paper application or via Get Covered Illinois
Will it affect your green card? (Public charge)
✅ Regular Medicaid does NOT count in the public charge test — receiving it does not affect your green card or immigration application. First, a sentence that may make this whole section irrelevant to you: many people are outside this assessment altogether. The exemption categories Congress created by statute remain in force — DHS said so in the July 20, 2026 rule: what it removed was the list, while "USCIS will provide training and guidance to its officers, including information about which aliens are statutorily exempt from the public charge ground of inadmissibility". ✅ Each of the following rests on its own statute and does not disappear with that list: refugees (8 U.S.C. §1157(c)(3): paragraph (4) of §1182(a) "shall not be applicable"); refugees and asylees adjusting status (§1159(c), same wording); Special Immigrant Juveniles (§1255(h)(2)(A): paragraph (4) "shall not apply"); and VAWA self-petitioners, U nonimmigrant applicants or holders, and battered spouses and children under §1641(c) (§1182(a)(4)(E): "shall not apply"). Battered spouses and children have a second layer of statutory protection: the law forbids considering any public benefits for them (INA §212(s)). If you hold a T visa: the law allows immigration authorities to waive the public charge ground (§1255(l)(2), "may waive") — but that waiver is discretionary; it does not apply automatically as the categories above do. ✅ This does not mean you cannot get a waiver; it means it has to be requested and explained case by case. Have a lawyer help you prepare it. For the full list, and whether you are in it, have a lawyer check. ✅ For what you received before September 18, 2026, the rule considers only two things: (a) public cash assistance for income maintenance (SSI, TANF cash, and state, tribal, territorial or local general-assistance cash) and (b) long-term institutionalization at government expense. Anything outside those two is not counted — that is written into the rule itself and has not changed. But if you did receive (a) or (b) before that date, those are considered; have an attorney look at your specific situation. (This is in the rule itself: it applies only going forward — DHS "will only consider the receipt of public cash assistance for income maintenance and long-term institutionalization at government expense before the effective date".) And if this assessment does apply to you — from September 18, 2026 onwards, things change — means-tested public benefits received on or after that day - that is, the public benefits that look at your income or assets when you apply - and for example SNAP, Medicaid, CHIP and WIC, but not limited to these, because the rule names a whole category rather than a list, and not limited to federal programs either - state, territorial, Tribal and local ones count too (verbatim: "Federal, State, territorial, Tribal, and local programs that provide means-tested public benefits"); if you are not sure whether the one you receive counts, ask a licensed immigration attorney - may be weighed as one of the factors (the rule "will consider the receipt of any means tested public benefits on or after that date"). ✅ It is one factor among many, not an automatic denial. The rule requires each case to be weighed on all of its circumstances. How much weight any one of them carries has not been published — USCIS has not issued its operating guidance. We have not verified it; that is not the same as saying it has changed. If you are applying for a visa abroad, or entering at a port of entry: the above describes USCIS (applications filed inside the United States). The rule itself notes that CBP at a port of entry may consider different information; how consulates abroad apply it, we have not verified.
⚠️ The one exception: Medicaid that pays for long-term institutional care (a long-term stay in a nursing facility or mental-health institution at government expense) DOES count. Everyday doctor visits, hospital care, prescriptions, and home- and community-based care are not this exception.
➕ Because the current rule excludes all non-institutional Medicaid, Medicaid for children, pregnancy, and emergencies also does not count. In mixed-status families, eligible citizen or qualified children can safely get the care they qualify for.
The statute itself names the moments at which this is assessed. INA § 212(a)(4)(A) (8 U.S.C. § 1182(a)(4)(A)) reads that an alien is inadmissible who, "in the opinion of the consular officer at the time of application for a visa, or in the opinion of the Attorney General at the time of application for admission or adjustment of status, is likely at any time to become a public charge." ⇒ Three occasions are named: applying for a visa, applying for admission, and applying for adjustment of status. Two things are commonly read too narrowly, and both errors point the same way — toward "this does not concern me": the statute says "a visa" and does not limit that to immigrant visas; and "application for admission" is its own separate occasion. We do not tell you whether your own situation is one of these — that depends on your case; consult a licensed immigration attorney.
The exemptions are not "a few categories" — the regulation lists twenty-nine of them. 8 CFR 212.23(a) opens: "The public charge ground of inadmissibility under section 212(a)(4) of the Act does not apply … to the following categories of aliens," and then runs (1) through (29). Among those most relevant to readers of this site: refugees (1); asylees (2); Cuban and Haitian entrants (5); Cuban Adjustment Act applicants (6); NACARA (7); Special Immigrant Juveniles (10); Temporary Protected Status (12); T nonimmigrants (17) and (18); U nonimmigrants (19); VAWA self-petitioners (20); battered spouses and children who are qualified aliens under PRWORA § 431(c) (21); Afghan and Iraqi interpreters (4); nationals of Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos (25). Category (29) has to be read along with the rest, and it is the one most easily missed: "Any other categories of aliens exempt under any other law from the public charge ground of inadmissibility provisions under section 212(a)(4) of the Act." ⇒ "I am not in the categories listed above" does not mean "I am not exempt." The full list of 29 is at 8 CFR 212.23(a). That regulation is scheduled for removal on September 18, 2026 (91 FR 45477); on that date this whole block closes rather than continuing to show old text — but the statutory exemptions themselves come from their own laws and do not disappear with it. Whether your case falls within one is a question for a licensed immigration attorney. These exemptions do not disappear with that list: in the rescission rule of July 20, 2026 DHS says so itself — "Although DHS is removing the regulation listing exemptions, the statutory exemptions created by Congress for certain Cuban and Haitian applicants for adjustment of status continue to exist." Note the scope of that sentence: it is DHS responding to a comment about Cuban and Haitian applicants, and it covers only those two groups. Each of the 29 categories rests on its own statute, which the regulation merely collected in one place - and that is why the list does not vanish with the regulation.
Renewing a green card and naturalizing are generally not occasions for a public charge assessment. For a green-card holder returning from a trip abroad, the statute writes out an exhaustive list of when they are treated as seeking admission at all. 8 U.S.C. § 1101(a)(13)(C): a lawful permanent resident "shall not be regarded as seeking an admission … unless the alien—" falls within one of six situations: (i) has abandoned or relinquished that status; (ii) has been absent for a continuous period in excess of 180 days; (iii) has engaged in illegal activity after departing; (iv) departed while under legal process seeking removal, including removal or extradition proceedings; (v) has committed an offense identified in 8 U.S.C. § 1182(a)(2), unless relief has since been granted under § 1182(h) or § 1229b(a); or (vi) is attempting to enter at a time or place other than as designated by immigration officers, or has not been admitted after inspection and authorization by an immigration officer. Those six are the whole of what the statute gives — the widely quoted "180 days" is only item (ii), not the only one. Whether your own situation falls within any of them is a question for a licensed immigration attorney; this site does not judge individual cases.
This is information only, not immigration, legal, or tax advice. Public charge and your personal status are complex — consult a licensed immigration attorney. We never tell you whether you "will" or "won't" be affected.
USCIS Policy Manual, Volume 8, Part G, Chapter 7 (benefits considered) and Chapter 3 (who it applies to) — 8 USCIS-PM G.7 / G.3; regulation 8 CFR 212.21–212.23; 2022 final rule 87 FR 55472. · 2022-12-23
Source:U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (uscis.gov) · checked 2026-07-16
Official excerpt
“Long-term institutionalization at government expense is the only category of Medicaid-funded services (limited to institutional services provided under section 1905(a) of the Social Security Act) considered in a public charge inadmissibility determination.”
Chapter 7 - Consideration of Current and/or Past Receipt of Public Cash Assistance for Income Maintenance or Long-term Institutionalization at Government Expense | USCIS · 8 USCIS-PM G.7
View the official document → (Opens in a new tab)Frequently asked questions
What is Medicaid?
Public health insurance for low-income people, jointly funded by the federal and state governments. It covers doctor visits, hospital care, prescriptions, pregnancy, and children's care. States run it under federal rules, and each state has its own name and details (California calls it Medi-Cal).
Who can apply for Medicaid in Illinois?
Generally, Adults 19-64 (ACA expansion): ≤ 138% FPL; Children 0-18 (under 19, All Kids): ≤ 318% FPL; Pregnancy (any age, Moms & Babies): ≤ 213% FPL; Aged/Blind/Disabled (65+/AABD, non-MAGI): ≤ 100% FPL. The agency makes the final determination.
Can non-citizens or people without immigration status get Medicaid?
Illinois covers immigrants by group, and its coverage for undocumented adults has been sharply cut back. (1) Children — All Kids covers income-eligible children under 19 regardless of immigration status (HFS states plainly that children who meet the other requirements can get All Kids regardless of immigration status); this continues. (2) Pregnant people — Moms & Babies covers pregnant people regardless of immigration status, continuing through 12 months postpartum; this continues. (3) Adults 42-64 — Illinois previously ran a state-funded program, Health Benefits for Immigrant Adults (HBIA), covering income-eligible noncitizens (including undocumented) regardless of status. Due to the state's FY2026 budget, HBIA ENDED effective July 1, 2025; the last day of HBIA coverage was June 30, 2025. Illinois NO LONGER enrolls or gives comprehensive coverage to undocumented/ineligible adults ages 19-64. People who lost HBIA keep access only to Emergency Medical for Noncitizens (time-limited emergency services, including labor and delivery), Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), and free/charitable clinics; those with a documented status may qualify for the ACA Marketplace. (4) Seniors 65+ — the companion state-funded program, Health Benefits for Immigrant Seniors (HBIS), still covers already-enrolled seniors 65+ regardless of status, but NEW enrollment has been PAUSED since November 6, 2023 — new applications are not accepted. (5) Everyone else — standard, federally funded Illinois Medicaid (ACA adults, AABD) still requires U.S. citizen or qualified-noncitizen status (generally a green-card holder past the 5-year bar, refugees/asylees, etc.). This is a fast-changing, high-stakes area — always check the latest official HFS guidance. Do NOT assume Illinois covers undocumented adults: for ages 42-64 that coverage ended July 1, 2025, and for seniors 65+ new enrollment is closed. Federal Medicaid generally requires a "qualified" immigration status, and most people must wait five years after getting that status (the "five-year bar") before applying. Refugees, asylees, and certain others are exempt from the five-year wait; emergency Medicaid is available regardless of status. Some states (such as California) use state funds to cover more people — see your state's details. The 2025 federal law OBBBA (H.R.1, Public Law 119-21, enacted July 4, 2025) significantly narrows eligibility: effective Oct 1, 2026 (Section 71109), federal Medicaid/CHIP funding is limited to four groups — U.S. citizens/nationals, lawful permanent residents (LPRs), Cuban/Haitian entrants, and COFA migrants (Micronesia/Marshall Islands/Palau). Refugees, asylees, trafficking victims, parolees, and other "qualified aliens" who are not yet LPRs lose federal eligibility (refugees/asylees can generally regain it after becoming LPRs). Emergency Medicaid remains available regardless of status (though Section 71110 lowers its federal match to the regular FMAP effective Oct 1, 2026 — this does not change its availability); the state options for lawfully-residing children and pregnant women are preserved. Section 71119 adds community-engagement (work) requirements for ACA-expansion adults (19-64) effective Dec 31, 2026 (or sooner at state option) — at least 80 hours/month, with exemptions for pregnant/postpartum people, the medically frail, caretakers of a child under 14, and others. This is a changing area — check the latest official guidance. The agency makes the final determination.
Does getting Medicaid affect my green card?
Regular Medicaid does NOT count in the public charge test — receiving it does not affect your green card or immigration application. First, a sentence that may make this whole section irrelevant to you: many people are outside this assessment altogether. The exemption categories Congress created by statute remain in force — DHS said so in the July 20, 2026 rule: what it removed was the list, while "USCIS will provide training and guidance to its officers, including information about which aliens are statutorily exempt from the public charge ground of inadmissibility". ✅ Each of the following rests on its own statute and does not disappear with that list: refugees (8 U.S.C. §1157(c)(3): paragraph (4) of §1182(a) "shall not be applicable"); refugees and asylees adjusting status (§1159(c), same wording); Special Immigrant Juveniles (§1255(h)(2)(A): paragraph (4) "shall not apply"); and VAWA self-petitioners, U nonimmigrant applicants or holders, and battered spouses and children under §1641(c) (§1182(a)(4)(E): "shall not apply"). Battered spouses and children have a second layer of statutory protection: the law forbids considering any public benefits for them (INA §212(s)). If you hold a T visa: the law allows immigration authorities to waive the public charge ground (§1255(l)(2), "may waive") — but that waiver is discretionary; it does not apply automatically as the categories above do. ✅ This does not mean you cannot get a waiver; it means it has to be requested and explained case by case. Have a lawyer help you prepare it. For the full list, and whether you are in it, have a lawyer check. ✅ For what you received before September 18, 2026, the rule considers only two things: (a) public cash assistance for income maintenance (SSI, TANF cash, and state, tribal, territorial or local general-assistance cash) and (b) long-term institutionalization at government expense. Anything outside those two is not counted — that is written into the rule itself and has not changed. But if you did receive (a) or (b) before that date, those are considered; have an attorney look at your specific situation. (This is in the rule itself: it applies only going forward — DHS "will only consider the receipt of public cash assistance for income maintenance and long-term institutionalization at government expense before the effective date".) And if this assessment does apply to you — from September 18, 2026 onwards, things change — means-tested public benefits received on or after that day - that is, the public benefits that look at your income or assets when you apply - and for example SNAP, Medicaid, CHIP and WIC, but not limited to these, because the rule names a whole category rather than a list, and not limited to federal programs either - state, territorial, Tribal and local ones count too (verbatim: "Federal, State, territorial, Tribal, and local programs that provide means-tested public benefits"); if you are not sure whether the one you receive counts, ask a licensed immigration attorney - may be weighed as one of the factors (the rule "will consider the receipt of any means tested public benefits on or after that date"). ✅ It is one factor among many, not an automatic denial. The rule requires each case to be weighed on all of its circumstances. How much weight any one of them carries has not been published — USCIS has not issued its operating guidance. We have not verified it; that is not the same as saying it has changed. If you are applying for a visa abroad, or entering at a port of entry: the above describes USCIS (applications filed inside the United States). The rule itself notes that CBP at a port of entry may consider different information; how consulates abroad apply it, we have not verified. The one exception: Medicaid that pays for long-term institutional care (a long-term stay in a nursing facility or mental-health institution at government expense) DOES count. Everyday doctor visits, hospital care, prescriptions, and home- and community-based care are not this exception. The exemptions are not "a few categories" — the regulation lists twenty-nine of them. 8 CFR 212.23(a) opens: "The public charge ground of inadmissibility under section 212(a)(4) of the Act does not apply … to the following categories of aliens," and then runs (1) through (29). Among those most relevant to readers of this site: refugees (1); asylees (2); Cuban and Haitian entrants (5); Cuban Adjustment Act applicants (6); NACARA (7); Special Immigrant Juveniles (10); Temporary Protected Status (12); T nonimmigrants (17) and (18); U nonimmigrants (19); VAWA self-petitioners (20); battered spouses and children who are qualified aliens under PRWORA § 431(c) (21); Afghan and Iraqi interpreters (4); nationals of Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos (25). Category (29) has to be read along with the rest, and it is the one most easily missed: "Any other categories of aliens exempt under any other law from the public charge ground of inadmissibility provisions under section 212(a)(4) of the Act." ⇒ "I am not in the categories listed above" does not mean "I am not exempt." The full list of 29 is at 8 CFR 212.23(a). That regulation is scheduled for removal on September 18, 2026 (91 FR 45477); on that date this whole block closes rather than continuing to show old text — but the statutory exemptions themselves come from their own laws and do not disappear with it. Whether your case falls within one is a question for a licensed immigration attorney. These exemptions do not disappear with that list: in the rescission rule of July 20, 2026 DHS says so itself — "Although DHS is removing the regulation listing exemptions, the statutory exemptions created by Congress for certain Cuban and Haitian applicants for adjustment of status continue to exist." Note the scope of that sentence: it is DHS responding to a comment about Cuban and Haitian applicants, and it covers only those two groups. Each of the 29 categories rests on its own statute, which the regulation merely collected in one place - and that is why the list does not vanish with the regulation. This is information only, not immigration, legal, or tax advice. Public charge and your personal status are complex — consult a licensed immigration attorney. We never tell you whether you "will" or "won't" be affected.
How do I apply for Medicaid in Illinois?
Proof of identity, income, Illinois residency, and household size; immigration documents as applicable. All Kids children and Moms & Babies pregnant people are not denied for lack of a qualifying immigration status. See official HFS guidance and the ABE apply page for the exact document list. Under federal Medicaid rules, an eligibility decision is generally made within 45 days (up to 90 days for disability-based cases); retroactive coverage for up to 3 months before the application month. Confirm IL-specific timing with the official program. Policies can change — always check the latest official information. https://abe.illinois.gov
Official sources
- About All Kids (Opens in a new tab)
Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) · checked 2026-07-16 · This document states no effective date
- How Much Does It Cost? (All Kids) — consumer cost chart; income table on HFS form 3711AK (R-04-19), demonstrably dated (Opens in a new tab)
Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) · HFS 3711AK (R-04-19) · checked 2026-07-16 · This document states no effective date
- PM I-03-05: Programs for Children (Illinois IES Policy Manual) (Opens in a new tab)
Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) · PM I-03-05 · checked 2026-07-16 · This document states no effective date
- PM 15-06-01-d: All Kids Assist Standard (Illinois IES Policy Manual) (Opens in a new tab)
Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) · PM 15-06-01-d · checked 2026-07-16 · This document states no effective date
Last checked: 2026-07-16
Policies can change — always check the latest official information.
This site is informational only and is not immigration, legal, or tax advice. For public charge and your personal status questions, consult a licensed immigration attorney.