New Site and Toolkit Launched to Educate Public About Looming Medicaid Eligibility Changes

An estimated 400,000 individuals in Illinois could lose their health coverage due to federal Medicaid cuts.

Apr. 10, 2026 at 1:35pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A translucent, ghostly X-ray photograph revealing the intricate internal structure of a human heart, rendered in shades of blue and grey against a dark background, conceptually representing the vital importance of Medicaid healthcare coverage.An X-ray view of the human heart highlights the critical role of Medicaid in providing essential healthcare coverage.Chicago Today

Cook County Health's Medicaid Impact Workgroup has launched Get Medicaid Facts, a microsite and communications toolkit designed to help Medicaid enrollees, community organizations, health care providers, insurers and public agencies prepare for major upcoming changes to Medicaid eligibility. The changes are due to federal legislation passed in 2025 that is projected to cut $1 trillion from Medicaid nationally over the next 10 years, including $26 billion in cuts to Medicaid funds for Illinois.

Why it matters

The healthcare provisions of the federal legislation will bring widespread and complex shifts to the Medicaid program, including more requirements customers must meet to be eligible for coverage and major financing changes that will put significant pressure on the state budget. Mitigating the anticipated harm these federal changes will cause is a top priority for the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services and its partners.

The details

Federal guidance on exemptions and verification processes for work requirements is expected in June 2026. States are required to share details about these requirements with impacted Medicaid enrollees by the end of September 2026, with the changes taking effect in January 2027. The Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) manages the state Medicaid program and is currently developing internal systems to comply with these new requirements.

  • In 2025, federal lawmakers passed House Resolution (H.R.) 1, also known as the 'One Big Beautiful Bill Act.'
  • Federal guidance on exemptions and verification processes for work requirements is expected in June 2026.
  • States are required to share details about these requirements with impacted Medicaid enrollees by the end of September 2026.
  • The changes are set to take effect in January 2027.

The players

Elizabeth M. Whitehorn

Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services Director.

Toni Preckwinkle

Cook County Board President.

Dr. Erik Mikaitis

Chief Executive Officer of Cook County Health.

Alexandra Normington

Chief Communications and Marketing Officer of Cook County Health.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“The healthcare provisions of H.R. 1 will bring widespread and complex shifts to the Medicaid program in the years to come, including more requirements customers must meet to be eligible for coverage and major financing changes that will put significant pressure on the state budget.”

— Elizabeth M. Whitehorn, Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services Director

“H.R. 1 imposes more complex processes that demand significant funding, staffing and infrastructure yet provides local Medicaid agencies only months to prepare. As we have seen in other states that implemented work requirements, these policies do not improve access. Instead, they create unnecessary red tape that makes it harder for eligible individuals to enroll and stay covered, which will ultimately leave hundreds of thousands uninsured.”

— Toni Preckwinkle, Cook County Board President

“Cook County Health created the Medicaid Impact Workgroup because we recognize that the scale and complexity of these federal changes demand a coordinated response. No single organization can meet this moment alone. By aligning our efforts, we can make the biggest impact in helping patients and community partners alike navigate these complex changes.”

— Dr. Erik Mikaitis, Chief Executive Officer, Cook County Health

“Confusion about upcoming Medicaid changes is already leading people to lose coverage they are still eligible for, and that is a problem we can act on right now. Get Medicaid Facts resources are designed to give people clear, practical steps they can take right now, and to also equip community partners with consistent, accurate information. The more we can educate enrollees early and in a united way, the more people we can keep covered.”

— Alexandra Normington, Chief Communications and Marketing Officer, Cook County Health

What’s next

Federal guidance on exemptions and verification processes for work requirements is expected in June 2026. States are required to share details about these requirements with impacted Medicaid enrollees by the end of September 2026, with the changes taking effect in January 2027.

The takeaway

The upcoming Medicaid eligibility changes due to federal legislation will have a significant impact on hundreds of thousands of Illinois residents, making it critical for state and local agencies, healthcare providers, and community organizations to work together to educate the public and help eligible individuals maintain their coverage.