CHIP in Illinois

Illinois at a glance

Illinois is home to about 1,872,449 foreign-born residents (14.7% of the state’s 12,694,798 people) and 2,387,049 residents of Hispanic or Latino origin (18.8%), per the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (2024 5-year estimates). The procedures below apply to everyone in Illinois regardless of immigration status unless noted.

CHIP covers health insurance for uninsured children from families earning too much for Medicaid but unable to afford private insurance.

CHIP eligibility limits in Illinois (verified data)

Source: Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) — CHIP data by state

Verified on: 2026-05-25

Children’s health coverage in Illinois

Child ageMedicaid (% FPL)
Infants 0-1 yearup to 142% FPL
Children 1-5 yearsup to 142% FPL
Children 6-18 yearsup to 142% FPL

CHIP upper income limit in Illinois: 318% of FPL

CHIP-funded prenatal coverage (conception to end of pregnancy): up to 213% of FPL

How to apply for CHIP in Illinois

  1. Combined Medicaid+CHIP application via healthcare.gov
  2. Illinois state application (some states have own portal)
  3. By phone: 1-877-KIDS-NOW (1-877-543-7669)

Illinois adopted CHIPRA Option

Illinois adopted the CHIPRA option, eliminating the 5-year bar for permanent-resident children. This means a child with a new green card (under 5 years in US) can qualify for CHIP in Illinois without waiting.

How to apply for CHIP in Illinois

  1. Visit Healthcare.gov or Illinois’s Medicaid/CHIP portal
  2. Complete the application — ONE application covers both Medicaid AND CHIP automatically
  3. Illinois determines if your child qualifies for one or the other

Typical coverage

CHIP covers: doctor visits, vaccines, hospitalization, dental, vision, prescriptions, mental health.

Income limits

Generally 200-300% federal poverty level. For family of 4: ~$60,000-$90,000/year.

Costs

CHIP has low co-pays (sometimes $0) and, in states that charge them, low monthly premiums; federal rules cap a family’s total CHIP cost-sharing at 5% of its income over the child’s eligibility period (42 CFR 457.560).

Last verified: 2026-06-15.