All Kids Health Insurance Reform Takes Effect Today

CHICAGO – The Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) is reminding the public that as of July 1, an income limit of 300 percent of the federal poverty level takes effect for the All Kids children’s health insurance program.  The limit was adopted as part of the landmark Medicaid reform legislation enacted in Illinois in January.  Any child enrolled prior to June 30, regardless of the family’s income, will continue to receive coverage under All Kids until June 30, 2012, as long as their premiums are paid and they continue to meet all other requirements.

“Illinois is taking a number of steps to reform its Medicaid program, to improve efficiency and ensure that we are covering those who truly need government-funded health care,” said HFS Director Julie Hamos.   “Implementing an income cap for All Kids is one of those steps.  Families that are over that level have options for health care in the private market.”

Hamos said that as a result of the federal Affordable Care Act, private health plans are now prohibited from denying health coverage to anyone under the age of 19 due to a pre-existing condition.

HFS said that the income limit would affect less than 1 percent of the 1.6 million children who receive health coverage through the department.

Under the Medicaid reform law that was authored by two bi-partisan legislative committees and signed into law by Governor Pat Quinn in January, HFS will increase efficiency and improve care by expanding coordinated care to cover at least 50 percent of Medicaid recipients by 2015.

The new income limit of 300 percent of the federal poverty level varies based on the size of the family, but for a family of four, the annual income limit would now be at about $67,000.
 
For more information about All Kids, go to http://www.allkids.com or call the All Kids Hotline at 1-866-ALL-KIDS (1-866-255-5437) or TTY 1-877-204-1012.