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Elizabeth M. Whitehorn, Director

Provider Notice Issued 02/14/2020

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Date:   February 14, 2020

 

To:       All Medical Assistance Providers

 

Re:      Client Eligibility for Temporary Medical Cards

 

 

­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­This notice informs all medical assistance providers of the temporary medical assistance options for certain individuals. Individuals who have applied for medical assistance through Medicaid, but who do not receive a timely decision from the State may access temporary medical assistance and a temporary medical card.

 

Background

  • The law requires the State to process medical applications within 60 days for persons requiring a disability determination and within 45 days for all other applicants. 
  • If an individual has made an application to the state and a decision has not been made within these timelines, the person will get a notice in the mail (Notice of Possible Entitlement to Temporary Medical Assistance – HFS 2350 Notice). This notice will be mailed to the address the applicant provided on their application.
  • Temporary medical cards are not automatically generated. Individuals must request a card to get the temporary coverage.
  • Coverage begins the 61st day (medical) or the 76th day (disability determination) after the date of application.
  • The temporary medical card will be valid until the Department approves or denies the individual’s application.

 

Temporary medical assistance only begins when an individual makes a request for a temporary medical card and ends when a final decision is made on the individual’s application.  Individuals will not be required to pay for medical services received during the time in which temporary medical assistance is in effect, even if their application is ultimately denied.

 

Individuals can request temporary medical cards in several ways.

  • Contact the DHS office at which the individual applied either in person or by telephone.
  • Call the All Kids Unit toll free at 1-877-805-5312 (TTY: 1-877-204-1012). After choosing English or Spanish, press 8 to request a temporary medical card. (Hours: 8:00am – 4:30pm)
    • This option is available to any applicant, not just those applying for the All Kids program. 
  • Online by logging into Application Benefits Eligibility (ABE)/Manage My Case (MMC) at http://abe.illinois.gov/abe/access
    • After logging on, individuals who are eligible for temporary coverage will see a “Request Temporary Card” button. A temporary card will be available within 24 hours after clicking. 


  • Requests can also be made by mailing or faxing the HFS 2350 Notice as follows:
    • Department of Healthcare and Family Services PO Box 19138, Springfield, IL 62794
    • Faxed to Central Scanning Unit at 844-736-3563

 

Temporary Medical Assistance does not cover long-term services and supports. Those services may be covered by Provisional Eligibility. More information is available at:

 

https://www.illinois.gov/hfs/MedicalProviders/ltss/ltc/Pages/FAQ.aspx.

 

 





Kelly Cunningham

Interim Medicaid Administrator