Welcome to Illinois Health Connect

What is Illinois Health Connect?

Illinois Health Connect is a new health care program of HFS (Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services). Illinois Health Connect helps you and your family to get health care and stay healthy by providing a medical home. Most people with an HFS or All Kids medical card MUST pick a medical home.

This Web site will provide you with all the information you need to join the thousands of Illinoisans who have chosen their medical home already.

When you enroll in Illinois Health Connect, you will have:

  • A "medical home" for all of your health care needs.
  • A Primary Care Provider (PCP) you can reach 24 hours a day.
  • Healthy Kids exams – free check-ups for babies, kids, teens, and young adults (birth through age 20).
  • An Illinois Health Connect Client Helpline for answers to questions and other help. You can call us at 1-877-912-1999 (TTY: 1-866-565-8577). The call is free.

Voluntary Managed Care Program (VMC)

Illinois Health Connect operates in all counties in the State of Illinois. If you live in Adams, Brown, Cook, Henry, Jackson, Kane, Madison, Mercer, Perry, Pike, Randolph, Rock Island, Scott, St. Clair, Washington or Williamson County, you can choose either Illinois Health Connect or a voluntary managed care plan. A voluntary managed care plan is an HMO or "HMO-like" plan. If you live in one of these counties, you need to enroll through the Illinois Client Enrollment Broker. You can reach them by calling the Illinois Client Enrollment Broker Helpline at 1-877-912-8880 (TTY: 1-866-565-8576). The call is free, and a Customer Service Representative will be happy to help you. Or, you can go online at http://www.illinoisceb.com/.

We Are Here to Help You

The phone number for the Illinois Health Connect Client Helpline is 1-877-912-1999 (TTY: 1-866-565-8577). The call is free.

The hours of operation for the Illinois Health Connect Client Helpline are:
Monday – Friday 8:00a.m. to 7:00p.m.

After hours you can call the Helpline and leave a message. Your call will be returned the next business day.

The Illinois Health Connect Client Helpline will help you:

  • Access services.
  • Find providers in your region.
  • Find providers who are handicapped accessible.
  • Tell what services are and are not covered for you.
  • Get disease management services.
  • Get help with any special needs.
  • Make a request for a ride to your medical appointments.
  • Update your contact information.
  • File a complaint.
  • Answer your questions.

Illinois Nurse Helpline

Illinois Health Connect offers a nurse helpline. Trained nurses who can answer basic medical questions staff it. The nurses will answer your questions and help tell you if you need to go to the Emergency Room. Hours of operation are 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. Monday through Friday and 24 hours a day on weekends. The Illinois Nurse Helpline number is 1-877-912-1999 (TTY: 1-866-565-8577). The call is free.

Client Information

Answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs).

How Do I Enroll?

It is easy to join Illinois Health Connect.

First pick a PCP. Think about where you and your family get your health care now. Do you want to stay with that doctor or clinic, or do you know another doctor or clinic that you like? Call that clinic or doctor's office to see if they are part of Illinois Health Connect.

  • If your doctor or clinic is part of Illinois Health Connect, you can pick them as your doctor. You do not have to pick the same doctor for all members of your family.
  • If not, we will help you pick a doctor, call us at 1-877-912-1999 (TTY: 1-866-565-8577). The call is free. We will help you pick a PCP.
  • Or go to the Illinois Health Connect PCP Directory to search for a PCP.

You do not have to pick your current doctor. You may pick a new doctor.

Once you have picked a doctor, you can enroll in Illinois Health Connect three ways:

  • PHONE: Call us at 1-877-912-1999 (TTY: 1-866-565-8577). The call is free. We will help you pick a PCP.
  • MAIL: Fill out the enrollment form you received in your packet. Mail the form back to Illinois Health Connect in the envelope provided.
    • Illinois Health Connect
      1375 East Woodfield Road, Suite 600
      Schaumburg, IL 60173-5418
  • ONLINE: Proceed to Illinois Health Connect Client Online Enrollment.

Need more help to pick the best doctor? Call the Illinois Health Connect Client Helpline at 1-877-912-1999 (TTY: 1-866-565-8577). The call is free.