All Kids is Illinois's health coverage program for children under 19, run by the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS). It combines children's Medicaid with Illinois's CHIP (Children's Health Insurance Program), and families apply once through ABE, the state's benefits portal. Illinois is a Medicaid expansion state, and in 2026 children in households up to 318% of the Federal Poverty Level can qualify, which is a higher ceiling than the 200% federal floor for CHIP.
In 2026, an Illinois family of four with annual household income up to $104,940 may qualify for All Kids. Applications are accepted year-round with no enrollment window. This guide covers All Kids income limits by family size, age and immigration rules after the October 1, 2026 federal change, how to apply, documents needed, and common denial reasons. Illinois adults looking for their own coverage should see the Illinois Medicaid income limits page.
Quick Answer: Does My Child Qualify for All Kids in Illinois?
Yes, if your child is under 19, lives in Illinois, and household income is at or below 318% of the Federal Poverty Level in 2026 ($104,940 a year for a family of four). All Kids is Illinois's CHIP and children's Medicaid program run by HFS. Apply at ABE any time of year. Immigration status rules changed on October 1, 2026, so check the carve-outs below.
All Kids Income Limits by Household Size in Illinois (2026)
Illinois sets the 2026 All Kids income ceiling at 318% of the Federal Poverty Level, the figure the CoveredUSA eligibility engine and KFF both use for Illinois children's coverage. That ceiling already includes the 5-point MAGI disregard, so it is the combined top of children's Medicaid and CHIP in Illinois. For a family size of four, the 2026 limit is $104,940 a year, or $8,745 a month. The household size table above lists every size from 1 to 8 plus the amount for each additional person.
Illinois counts income under MAGI (Modified Adjusted Gross Income) rules, and household composition follows tax filing relationships, so parents, the child, and any siblings the parents claim usually count as one household. Wages, self-employment income, unemployment benefits, and taxable Social Security count. Child support received and Supplemental Security Income do not. In 2026, a family of four earning $90,000 is under the $104,940 All Kids limit, while a family of four earning $110,000 is over it. Illinois measures the child's limit against the 2026 poverty guidelines published by ASPE.
Who Else Qualifies for All Kids in Illinois: Age, Residency and Immigration Status
Illinois All Kids has three basic non-income requirements. The child must be under 19, must live in Illinois, and must meet the program's citizenship or immigration rules. HFS says children can be eligible even with current or recent private insurance, so Illinois does not apply a waiting period for children who had private coverage. Below roughly 147% FPL in 2026 (about $48,510 for a family of four), Illinois places most children in regular children's Medicaid; above that line in 2026, All Kids Assist covers them up to 318% FPL. Families do not choose between the two. ABE assigns the right category.
Immigration status matters more since October 1, 2026. Under P.L. 119-21 section 71109, federally funded Medicaid and CHIP are limited to U.S. citizens and nationals, green card holders, Cuban and Haitian entrants, and citizens of Micronesia, the Marshall Islands and Palau. Refugees, asylees, parolees and other immigrants without a green card generally no longer qualify for federally funded coverage. Illinois has long covered children regardless of immigration status through All Kids, and coverage paid only with state money is a state-funded program, not Medicaid or CHIP. DACA recipients have never been eligible for federal Medicaid or CHIP. Confirm your child's category with HFS before assuming either way. Citizen children in mixed-status families can always apply.
How to Apply for All Kids in Illinois
Illinois accepts All Kids applications year-round, with no enrollment window. The main channel is ABE (Application for Benefits Eligibility) at abe.illinois.gov, which is run by HFS and the Illinois Department of Human Services. One ABE application can also screen your household for other Illinois benefits. HFS says coverage begins with the month of application, and eligible children may also apply for three months of retroactive coverage if needed. The All Kids hotline at 1-866-255-5437 (TTY 1-877-204-1012) can help you apply by phone.
Illinois families can also call the ABE customer line at 1-800-843-6154 or ask a community health center, hospital, or school enrollment helper for assistance. After you submit, HFS may ask for verification, and your child receives a written notice of the decision. Once approved, Illinois children get 12 months of continuous eligibility under federal law that took effect January 1, 2024, so a mid-year raise does not end coverage before renewal.
What All Kids Covers in Illinois and What It Costs
All Kids in Illinois covers doctor visits, well-child checkups, immunizations, hospital care, prescriptions, dental, vision, and mental health care for children under 19. HFS states that eligible children under All Kids Assist have coverage without any premiums or co-payments. Older Illinois cost charts that list Share and Premium tiers with monthly premiums are out of date: HFS moved those children into All Kids Assist effective July 1, 2022.
Is Illinois a Medicaid Expansion State?
Yes, Illinois is a Medicaid expansion state, so there is no ACA gap for Illinois adults. Illinois expanded Medicaid in January 2014, and adults 19 to 64 qualify at 138% FPL in 2026 ($22,025 a year for one person, $45,540 for a family of four). The 10 non-expansion states are Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Wisconsin and Wyoming; Illinois is not one of them. Parents in Illinois can often get coverage for themselves while their children are on All Kids.
Expansion adults face a new rule that does not touch children. Under P.L. 119-21 section 71119, adults 19 to 64 in the expansion group must show work, school, training or volunteering (80 hours a month) to get and keep Medicaid, starting as early as January 2027 depending on the state. Parents or caretakers of a child 13 or younger are exempt, and the rule does not apply to a child's All Kids coverage. Expansion adults whose renewal falls on or after January 1, 2027 must also renew every 6 months; children's renewals stay on the regular schedule.
Common Reasons All Kids Applications Get Denied in Illinois
Illinois denies All Kids applications for a short list of reasons. Income above 318% FPL is the clearest: in 2026 that is more than $104,940 for a family of four. Other frequent causes are missing verification that HFS requested, an unverified Illinois address, a child who is 19 or older, and immigration status that does not fit the federal categories in effect since October 1, 2026. Reporting the wrong household composition or leaving out a parent's income can also produce a denial or a later correction.
How to Appeal an All Kids Denial in Illinois
Illinois gives families 60 days from the date of the action to appeal an All Kids decision, according to the HFS All Kids appeals page. Send a written appeal to the Bureau of Administrative Hearings, 401 South Clinton, 6th Floor, Chicago, IL 60607, fax it to 1-312-793-0095, or take it to a local Department of Human Services office. Include your child's name, case number if you have one, and why you disagree. If coverage is being cut, ask HFS about keeping benefits during the appeal, since that window can be short. You can also reapply at any time if your income or household composition changes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the All Kids income limit for a family of 4 in Illinois (2026)?
A family of four qualifies for All Kids in Illinois if annual household income is at or below $104,940 in 2026. That is 318% of the 2026 Federal Poverty Level for four people ($33,000 x 3.18), or $8,745 a month. The 2026 figure of 318% includes the 5-point MAGI disregard. Children in families under roughly 147% FPL ($48,510 for four in 2026) are placed in regular children's Medicaid instead.
What counts as income for All Kids in Illinois (MAGI definition)?
Illinois uses Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI). It counts wages, tips, self-employment net income, unemployment benefits, taxable Social Security, interest, dividends, and rental income. It does not count child support received, Supplemental Security Income, or most gifts. Household composition follows tax filing rules, so claim the same people you would claim on a 2026 return. Report gross income before taxes.
What documents do I need to apply for All Kids in Illinois?
Gather proof of your child's identity and age, Social Security numbers for applicants who have them, proof of Illinois residency, income proof for every earner (pay stubs from the last 30 days, a W-2 or 1099, or a tax return), and household composition details. Add immigration documents for any non-citizen applicant. Upload them through ABE at abe.illinois.gov if HFS requests verification after you apply.
What happens if my All Kids application is denied in Illinois?
You have 60 days from the date of the action to appeal, per the HFS All Kids appeals page. Mail the appeal to the Bureau of Administrative Hearings, 401 South Clinton, 6th Floor, Chicago, IL 60607, fax it to 1-312-793-0095, or take it to a local Department of Human Services office. You can also reapply right away if your income or household composition changes, since there is no enrollment window.
Does my child lose All Kids if my family has private insurance?
Not necessarily. HFS says children can be eligible for All Kids benefits even with current or recent private insurance, so Illinois has no waiting period for kids who had private coverage. If the child is approved, All Kids Assist has no premiums or co-payments per HFS. Tell ABE about any other coverage when you apply so claims are paid in the right order.
Is Illinois a Medicaid expansion state, and does that affect All Kids?
Yes. Illinois expanded Medicaid in January 2014, and adults 19 to 64 qualify at 138% FPL in 2026 ($22,025 a year for one person). Expansion means no ACA gap for Illinois adults. For children, expansion does not change the All Kids ceiling of 318% FPL in 2026. Expansion adults may face a work requirement starting as early as January 2027, but that rule does not apply to a child's coverage.
How long does the All Kids application take, and when does coverage start?
HFS says All Kids coverage begins with the month of application, and eligible children may also apply for three months of retroactive coverage if needed. Decision time depends on whether HFS must request verification, so respond to any ABE notice quickly. Once approved, federal law gives children 12 months of continuous eligibility, in effect since January 1, 2024.
Can undocumented or recently arrived immigrant children get All Kids in Illinois?
Illinois has long covered children regardless of immigration status through All Kids, but since October 1, 2026 federally funded Medicaid and CHIP are limited to citizens, green card holders, Cuban and Haitian entrants, and citizens of three Pacific nations. Coverage for children outside those groups is a state-funded program, not Medicaid or CHIP. DACA recipients have never qualified for federal Medicaid or CHIP. Ask HFS at 1-866-255-5437 for your child's category.
