Learn How To Apply For Medicaid Assistance With Our Guide

Learn How To Apply For Medicaid Assistance With Our Guide

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What is the expansion of Medicaid in Illinois? Along with the Affordable Care Act, the Affordable Care Act Medicaid expansion was first proposed in the early 2010s. The ACA Medicaid expansion is available for all 50 states but each state is not required to expand its Medicaid program. If a state accepts the expansion, the new Affordable Care Act Medicaid eligibility standards will go into effect, which will change the existing Medicaid qualifications to make income a sole deciding factor for enrollment. If a state chooses not to go forward with the Affordable Care Act expansion, there will be no changes made to that state’s Medicaid program, which uses factors like age, disability and health status to determine if an applicant qualified for help. The mission of the expansion of Medicaid is to help more low-income people have medical benefits, which could have a drastic impact on improving the health of the nation as well as the financial costs to the state. If widely enacted, the Obamacare Medicaid expansion could help millions get affordable health coverage. For more Obamacare Medicaid expansion details in Illinois, read the outlined topics below.

Learn About the ACA Medicaid Expansion in Illinois

What is the Obamacare Medicaid expansion and does it affect Illinois residents? Although the expansion increases the number of residents eligible to submit an Affordable Care Act Medicaid in Illinois, there are expenses associated to providing such coverage. The ACA Medicaid expansion cost to states can be quite large even with the help of the federal government. This one of the reasons is why many states have chosen to opt out of the expansion. Thus far, 31 states including Illinois and the District of Columbia have chosen the ACA expansion of Medicaid. Choosing the Affordable Care Act’s plan for expansion is not something Illinois lawmakers took lightly. The expansion program has the ability to help many people across the state get access to health care.

Most states that have moved forward with the Affordable Care Act expansion will keep the expansion program until the early to mid-2020s. State lawmakers will be required to review the benefits and disadvantages of the program allowing them to keep the program or to make adjustments to it.

For comprehensive information about Medicaid requirements to enroll, download our free guide.

What does choosing the Affordable Care Act Medicaid expansion mean for Illinois?

The details that make up what is the expansion of Medicaid in Illinois are not difficult to understand. IL Obamacare Medicaid expansion details include changes to eligibility requirements for residents of the state. The new ACA Medicaid eligibility standards make it far easier for adults between 19 and 65 years of age to get medical benefits. Before the change in program qualifications, Medicaid eligibility restrictions included adults who did not have children or a disability. The Obamacare expansion has changed that so now adults who earn 138 percent of the federal poverty level or less are able to receive health benefits. The Illinois Medicaid system has always offered medical benefits for low-income applicants like senior citizens, children, pregnant women and families.

Additionally, ACA expansion details also allow individuals who were a part of the foster care system to stay on Medicaid benefits until their 26th birthday. The expansion also gives more funds to the state to increase its smoking cessation programs and help more people receive subsidized family planning help.

Will the ACA Medicaid expansion allow me to enroll in Medicaid?

You should submit an Illinois ACA Medicaid application if you meet the eligibility requirements and are interested in receiving health care assistance. Since the ACA Medicaid expansion in Illinois, more residents are eligible for coverage. The process is simple and most people are enrolled in about a month after submitting the application.

Please note: Being denied Illinois Medicaid benefits does not mean you cannot get health benefits elsewhere. There are several other medical benefits programs such as the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) that are available for Medicaid ineligible petitioners. This means that you do not need to qualify for Medicaid to be enrolled in these programs.

To find about more your health care and Medicaid benefits options, download our complimentary guide.