How to Enroll

CountyCare is a no cost Illinois Medicaid managed care health plan for residents of Cook County. This means you will never have copays or deductibles. You must be signed up for Medicaid to enroll in CountyCare.

To sign up for Medicaid, Illinois residents can visit the Application for Benefits Eligibility website to start the health care coverage application. Or, call Cook County Health Application Assistance Call Center at 312-864-8200 / 855-444-1661 (toll-free) / 711 (TDD/TTY), option 1.

Once you’re enrolled in Medicaid, you may be able to choose CountyCare as your health plan. Please call Illinois Client Enrollment Services at 1-877-912-8880 or visit HealthChoice Illinois at https://enrollhfs.illinois.gov/ to select your health plan. Click here to learn more about the services and benefits CountyCare provides for our members.

Medicaid basics

What is Medicaid?

Medicaid is a state and federal program that pays for medical assistance services. Services funded through Medicaid include doctors’ visits, hospital care, vision, dental and prescription coverage.

Why do I need health insurance?

Health insurance helps cover your medical costs. Medicaid allows you and your family to visit your doctor or specialists and get immediate care in case of an emergency – at no cost to you.

Do I qualify for Medicaid?

To qualify for HealthChoice Illinois, the statewide Medicaid managed care program, you can apply any time and you must:

  1. Be a resident of the State of Illinois
  2. Need health care insurance assistance
  3. Have a financial situation that would be considered low income or very low income

To learn more and see if you qualify for Medicaid and other benefits, visit the Application for Benefits Eligibility website or call the Cook County Health Application Assistance Call Center at 312-864-8200, option 1.

Open enrollment

Once each year, you can change health plans during a specific time called “open enrollment.” This means over the next few months, you will be able to choose your health plan for the next year. Once you pick your plan, you will not be able to change it for one year.

How does it work?

You will receive a letter in the mail from the State of Illinois letting you know how to select your health plan.

If you’re already a CountyCare member and want to stay a member, you don’t have to do anything. You will be automatically re-enrolled in your current health plan.

If you’re not a CountyCare member and would like to become one, please call Illinois Client Enrollment Services at 1-877-912-8880 and tell them you would like to enroll with CountyCare. Click here to learn about CountyCare’s services and benefits.

If you haven’t received your letter or you are not sure when you should expect a letter, please call Illinois Client Enrollment Services at 1-877-912-8880.

Frequently asked questions

Once each year, you can change health plans during a period called “open enrollment.” If you’re happy with your current plan, you do not need to do anything to keep your plan. If you’re not happy with your current plan, this is your opportunity to change it.

The State of Illinois will send you a letter letting you know your enrollment date. You will have at least 60 days from when you receive the letter to choose your health plan.

If you change plans, you will be in the plan you choose until next year’s choice period. Once you make the change you cannot change back.

If you don’t do anything, you will remain with the Medicaid plan you currently have. If you’d like to keep CountyCare as your plan but change your doctor, call Member Services at 312-864-8200 to change your primary care provider (PCP).

Open enrollment happens once a year and is when you choose which Medicaid health care plan you want. Open enrollment is for people who have already been approved or are already enrolled in Medicaid.

Redetermination is a review of your eligibility for Medicaid. It is how the State of Illinois determines if you are still eligible for coverage. You must complete your redetermination forms when it is time and return them to the state or you could lose your Medicaid coverage.

If you want to learn more about CountyCare or have questions about open enrollment, call us at 312-864-8200 / 855-444-1661 (toll-free) / 711 (TDD/TTY).

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