Important Medicaid changes are coming October 1, 2026. A new federal law ammends which immigrants and noncitizens qualify for federally funded Medicaid. Beginning October 1, 2026, some people who currently receive full Medicaid coverage will no longer qualify because of their immigration status.
These changes are required by federal law. They were not initiated by the State of Illinois.
For immigrants with disabilities, losing Medicaid can be incredibly harmful. Medicaid may pay for medications, doctors and specialists, mental healthcare, therapies, medical equipment, and other services that enable people with disabilities to remain healthy and independent.
Do not assume that you are losing Medicaid. The changes do not affect every immigrant or noncitizen, and Illinois will send notices to people whose coverage may be affected.
Jump to Section
- Who May Lose Full Medicaid Coverage
- Who Can Still Qualify
- Why This Matters for People with Disabilities
- What Should I Do Now?
- I Have a Disability. What Should I Do Before Coverage Ends?
- What is Emergency Medicaid?
- If I Lose Medicaid, Where Can I Get Healthcare?
- Disability Access Still Matters
- Protect Yourself From Scams
- Important Date: October 1, 2026
- Get Prepared
Who May Lose Full Medicaid Coverage?
Beginning October 1, 2026, federal Medicaid eligibility will become more restrictive for some lawfully present immigrants.
People who may lose federally funded full-scope Medicaid include some:
- Refugees and asylees who have not yet become lawful permanent residents;
- Humanitarian parolees, including people admitted through certain Ukrainian and Afghan humanitarian programs;
- Survivors of human trafficking;
- Survivors of domestic violence;
- Special Immigrant Visa holders;
- Certain VAWA applicants;
- People granted withholding of removal;
- Certain conditional entrants; and
- People in other protected humanitarian immigration categories.
Your individual circumstances matter. Do not cancel your Medicaid or assume that you are ineligible based only on this list. Your eligibility may depend on your current immigration status, whether your immigration status has changed, your age, pregnancy status, and the Medicaid program in which you are enrolled.
Who Can Still Qualify?
The federal changes do not eliminate Medicaid eligibility for all immigrants. People who may continue to qualify include:
- Naturalized U.S. citizens;
- Lawful permanent residents, or Green Card holders, who have satisfied or are exempt from the applicable five-year waiting period;
- Certain Cuban and Haitian entrants;
- Compact of Free Association, or COFA, migrants from the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, or Palau;
- Children under age 19;
- Pregnant people; and
- People enrolled in certain Illinois-funded healthcare programs.
Some people who lose eligibility for full-scope Medicaid may also qualify for Emergency Medicaid.
Do not assume your current immigration category is the one Illinois has on file. If your immigration status has changed since you applied for Medicaid, updating your information could affect what coverage you are eligible to receive.
Why This Matters for People With Disabilities
Losing comprehensive Medicaid coverage is dangerous for people with disabilities. Emergency Medicaid is not the same as full Medicaid coverage. Emergency Medicaid generally provides limited coverage for qualifying emergency medical conditions. It should not be viewed as a replacement for the routine and ongoing healthcare that many people with disabilities need.
For example, a disabled person losing full Medicaid could experience disruptions involving:
- Regular primary and specialty care;
- Prescription medications;
- Mental and behavioral healthcare;
- Physical, occupational, or other therapies;
- Ongoing treatment of chronic conditions;
- Medical supplies or equipment; or
- Other medically necessary services.
If you are at risk of losing Medicaid, begin planning for continuity of care before October 1.
What Should I Do Now?
- Do not cancel your Medicaid
Do not voluntarily give up Medicaid because you heard that immigration eligibility rules are changing. Wait for an official determination about your coverage. - Update your contact information
Make sure Illinois has your current mailing address, phone number, and email address. You can review and update information through ABE Manage My Case. It is important to have a reliable mailing address because Illinois will send individualized notices to people affected by these changes. - Make sure Illinois has your current immigration status
If your immigration status has changed since you applied for Medicaid, update the information Illinois has on file and provide documentation when appropriate. A change in immigration status could change your eligibility. - Read every letter from Illinois Medicaid
Do not ignore a Medicaid notice even if you think the State already has the correct information. Read the entire notice and pay attention to deadlines. If you do not understand a notice, ask for help. - Prepare your healthcare before October 1
If you have been notified that your coverage will end, talk with your healthcare providers about what you can safely do before the change. Depending on your medical needs, this could include:
• scheduling appointments;
• completing necessary tests or procedures;
• refilling prescriptions when permitted;
• discussing medication continuity with your doctor and pharmacist;
• obtaining medically necessary supplies; and
• creating a plan for ongoing treatment.
Do not change medications, treatment, or medical equipment without consulting an appropriate healthcare professional.
I Have a Disability. What Should I Do Before My Coverage Ends?
If you rely on Medicaid for ongoing disability-related healthcare, consider making a list of the services you currently receive. Write down:
- Your doctors and specialists;
- Your medications;
- Your pharmacy;
- Medical equipment and supplies you use;
- Therapies or recurring treatments;
- Upcoming appointments; and
- Other services that could be interrupted.
Ask your providers what options may be available if your insurance changes. If you use essential medication or medical equipment, do not wait until your coverage ends to begin planning.
What Is Emergency Medicaid?
Some noncitizens who lose full Medicaid solely because of their immigration status may still qualify for Emergency Medicaid if they meet the other Medicaid eligibility requirements. Emergency Medicaid can cover qualifying emergency medical services when a medical condition is serious enough that the absence of immediate medical attention could:
- Place someone’s health in serious jeopardy;
- Seriously impair bodily functions; or
- Cause serious dysfunction of an organ or body part.
But Emergency Medicaid does not provide the same comprehensive coverage as regular Medicaid. For people with disabilities and chronic health conditions, this distinction is very important. A person can have significant and medically necessary healthcare needs without those services qualifying as emergency treatment.
If I Lose Medicaid, Where Can I Get Healthcare?
Losing full Medicaid does not mean you should stop seeking healthcare. Depending on your circumstances, alternatives may include:
Get Covered Illinois
Some people may qualify for health insurance through Illinois’ health insurance marketplace. Immigration eligibility rules for marketplace coverage are different from Medicaid rules.
Federally Qualified Health Centers
Community health centers provide primary and other healthcare services to uninsured and underinsured patients, including immigrants.
Free and Charitable Clinics
Illinois has free and charitable clinics that serve people who are uninsured or underinsured.
Hospital Financial Assistance and Charity Care
If you need hospital care and are uninsured, ask the hospital about financial assistance or charity-care programs.
Emergency Medicaid
If you are ineligible for full Medicaid because of immigration status, you may still qualify for Emergency Medicaid for qualifying emergency medical conditions.
Employer or Family Coverage
Some people may have access to insurance through their employer, spouse, parent, or another family member.
Before enrolling in another plan, try to determine whether your doctors, medications, medical equipment, and other essential healthcare will be covered.
Disability Access Still Matters
Immigration status does not change your disability rights. Healthcare providers and government agencies still have obligations to provide effective communication and reasonable modifications to people with disabilities.
If you need information in an accessible format, an interpreter, communication assistance, or another disability-related modification to navigate the Medicaid process, ask for it.
People with disabilities should not lose access to healthcare simply because information about these complicated changes is inaccessible.
Protect Yourself From Scams
Major benefit changes can create opportunities for scams. Be cautious if someone contacts you unexpectedly and asks for money, banking information, passwords, or other sensitive information in exchange for keeping your Medicaid.
If you receive a Medicaid notice and are unsure whether it is legitimate, verify it through an official State of Illinois resource or a trusted community organization before providing sensitive information.
Important Date: October 1, 2026
Some immigrants and noncitizens will lose eligibility for federally funded full-scope Medicaid beginning October 1, 2026. Illinois is sending individualized information to affected Medicaid customers.
Your Medicaid does not end simply because you are an immigrant. Do not cancel your coverage based on something you hear from another person, social media, or a general flyer. Find out what the changes mean for your individual case.
Get Prepared
- Keep your Medicaid coverage unless Illinois tells you that your eligibility has changed.
- Update your address, phone number, and email with Illinois Medicaid.
- Make sure Illinois has your current immigration status.
- Open and read every Medicaid notice you receive.
- If you have a disability, make a continuity-of-care plan before any coverage ends.
- If you receive a termination notice, find out whether you qualify for another Medicaid category or healthcare program.
- Ask for help if you do not understand what a notice means.
Access Living will continue monitoring implementation of the new federal Medicaid requirements and advocating to ensure that people with disabilities in Illinois do not lose healthcare because of inaccessible systems, unnecessary paperwork, or administrative barriers.