Chicago Coalition to End Homelessness (CCH) and our partners, particularly the Protect Our Care-Illinois (POC-IL) coalition, are deeply concerned by the upcoming changes to the Medicaid program, affecting the health coverage of hundreds of thousands of low-income Illinoisans.
Starting October 1, noncitizen adults – specifically asylees, refugees, humanitarian parolees, T-visa holders, and those with VAWA status – will lose Medicaid coverage. Additionally, almost 700,000 Illinoisans in the ACA Adults program will face new strict work requirements and will be required to submit extra documentation to keep their insurance coverage starting January 2027. Beyond those changes, all recipients of Medicaid will now have to submit documents to the state twice a year to continue receiving health insurance coverage, a burden that will block access to life-saving care for the most vulnerable among us.
These changes are part of a series of harmful changes dictated by the so-called “One Big Beautiful Bill” (H.R. 1), which was passed by Congress in July 2025.
These changes mirror a nationwide increase in hostility towards immigrants, low-income people, and people experiencing homelessness. While these public benefits cuts and restrictions are being implemented, we are also seeing an increase in the criminalization and further stigmatization of people experiencing homelessness as encampment residents are continually monitored, harassed, and displaced and more camping bans pop up across the state and the country.
Housing and health are inextricably linked. We know that for those who are experiencing homelessness and housing instability, having access to health care is an essential requirement for long-term stability and can quite literally be a matter of life and death. One catastrophic health event can result in financial burdens severe enough to cause housing instability and homelessness. Meanwhile, people experiencing homelessness are less likely to be able to access the care that they need and face increased health risks because of their precarious living situations.
Alternative Healthcare Resources
If you know you will be impacted by these changes, you have some options. Log onto ABE.Illinois.Gov to apply to state-funded health insurance programs that will not be affected by these changes. These programs include Emergency Medicaid for ER visits, Moms & Babies for pregnant and postpartum people up to a year after pregnancy, AllKids for children through age 18, and VTTC Medical program for asylees and T- and U-visa holders with children.
You can also enroll in CareLink if you are an uninsured resident of Cook County (regardless of immigration status) or request hospital financial assistance (Charity Care) at all healthcare providers across the state of Illinois.
Everyone who is currently enrolled in Medicaid should have received notice of the changes from the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS). If you did not receive a notice in September, you should contact HFS to update your contact information by calling (800) 843-6154, so you can stay up to date on any further changes to the Medicaid program.
Stay tuned for more information on work requirements and exemptions, or log onto HFS’s Federal Resource Center for webinars, fact sheets, and key updates on these changes.
If you are facing or at risk of homelessness and have questions about your eligibility or insurance coverage, contact CCH’s Law Project at (800) 940-1119. If you are a service provider working with people at risk of or experiencing homelessness, trainings on these eligibility changes are also available. Please email lawproject@chicagohomeless.org to be connected to one of CCH’s attorneys or schedule a training.
