2024 Health Insurance Education Webinar Series for Families Kicks Off in March
Free virtual training sessions for Division of Specialized Care for Children participants, their families and anyone interested in learning more about health insurance topics
Is figuring out your health insurance leaving you confused, frustrated or both?
Change your confusion to confidence with the University of Illinois Chicago’s Division of Specialized Care for Children (DSCC) Health Insurance Education Series.
These free trainings can help you better navigate your health insurance coverage and benefits. Each month, DSCC team members and other presenters will explain a different topic.
Each presentation will be in English. A Spanish interpretation line will be available during each session.
Check out the topics, mark your calendars and register for each session you’re interested in attending.
The session descriptions are in English followed by Spanish:
- Social Security Benefits, March 12 at 6 p.m.
- This training will help you understand Social Security benefits. Presenters from the Social Security Administration will share information about Supplemental Security Income and Social Security Disability Insurance. You will learn who can get benefits and how to apply for benefits. It will also cover what the Social Security program benefits are and how to keep your benefits.
- See the Social Security flyer for more details.
- Register on Zoom for Social Security Benefits
- Medicaid Denials, April 9 at 6 p.m.
- This training will help you understand Medicaid denials. It will review the common reasons that Medicaid denies services, such as equipment. The presentation will also share tips on how to avoid denials and what to do if Medicaid denies your services. This training will be for those with regular Medicaid and those enrolled in a managed care plan (MCO).
- See the Medicaid Denials flyer for more details.
- Register on Zoom for Medicaid Denials
- Transitioning Health Insurance Benefits to Adulthood, May 14 at 6 p.m.
- This training will help you understand how to transition health insurance benefits to adulthood. It will go over different insurance types, including Medicaid, Medicare and private insurance. This presentation will help you know what to start thinking about for health insurance benefits as you or your child nears adulthood.
- See the Transitioning Health Insurance Benefits to Adulthood flyer for more details.
- Register on Zoom for Transitioning Health Insurance Benefits to Adulthood
- Beneficios de Seguro Social, 12 de marzo a las 6 p.m.
- Esta capacitación lo ayudará a entender los beneficios del Seguro Social. Los presentadores de la Administración del Seguro Social compartirán información sobre el Seguro de Ingreso Suplementario y el Seguro de Incapacidad del Seguro Social. Aprenderá quién puede obtener beneficios y cómo solicitarlos. También cubrirá cuáles son los beneficios del programa de Seguro Social y cómo conservar sus beneficios.
- Consulte el folleto de Beneficios de Seguro Social para obtener más detalles.
- Enlace para registrarse
- Negaciones de Medicaid, 9 de abril a las 6 p.m.
- Esta capacitación lo ayudará a comprender las negaciones de Medicaid. Revisará las razones comunes por las que Medicaid niega servicios, como equipos. La presentación también compartirá consejos sobre cómo evitar negaciones y qué hacer si Medicaid niega sus servicios. Esta capacitación será para quienes tienen Medicaid regular y quienes están inscritos en un plan de atención administrada (MCO).
- Consulte el folleto de Negaciones de Medicaid para obtener más detalles.
- Enlace para registrarse
- Transición de los beneficios del seguro médico a la edad adulta, 14 de mayo a las 6 p.m.
- Esta capacitación lo ayudará a comprender cómo hacer la transición de los beneficios del seguro médico a la edad adulta. Tratará diferentes tipos de seguros, incluidos Medicaid, Medicare y seguros privados. Esta presentación le ayudará a saber en qué empezar a pensar en cuanto a los beneficios del seguro médico a medida que usted o su hijo se acercan a la edad adulta.
- Consulte el folleto de Transición de los beneficios del seguro médico a la edad adulta para obtener más detalles.
- Enlace para registrarse
You can also download a flyer with all the Health Insurance Education Series topics and registration links. (The flyer is also available in Spanish.)
The webinars are open to DSCC participants, their family members and anyone interested in these topics.
This is the second year for the DSCC Health Insurance Education Series. It began in response to DSCC families’ questions and suggestions from our Family Advisory Council.
Details about each series session are also posted on our Events page.
The 2024 Health Insurance Education Series is free for all attendees.
If you miss a session, you can access the recordings and related materials on our Family Education Webinars page.
If you have questions about these webinars before or after a session, email dscc@uic.edu or call (800) 322-3722.
We look forward to seeing you online!
Important Reminders: End of Public Health Emergency and Return to In-Person Visits
An overview of key changes affecting all Division of Specialized Care for Children participants now that the public health emergency is over
The public health emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic ended on May 11, 2023.
This ending brings a variety of changes for our Division of Specialized Care for Children (DSCC) participant families. These changes include a return to in-person visits from DSCC Care Coordinators, an end to verbal signatures and more.
The following sections give an overview of key points and important dates to remember:
- Reminders for All DSCC Program Participants
- Reminders for Home Care Program Participants
- Important Medicaid/Insurance Updates for All DSCC Participants in Medicaid
- Contact Reminders for All DSCC Program Participants
Reminders for All DSCC Program Participants
Return to In-Person Visits
Meeting in person with our participants and families is an important part of care coordination. The public health emergency allowed face-to-face visits to occur virtually. Now that the public health emergency has ended, we must return to face-to-face meetings with our participants.
Your DSCC Care Coordinator will work with you in advance to schedule your next in-person/home visit. We understand that in-person visits with your Care Coordinator may be a change for you and your family. We paused these visits for several years during the public health emergency (though many families continued to meet with their Care Coordinator during the pandemic).
Seeing you in person helps us get to know you and your family better. It can also help improve your connection with your DSCC Care Coordinator. Our partnership with Medicaid and Medicaid managed care plans also requires us to meet with you in person. If you have any concerns about in-person visits, please talk to your Care Coordinator. We will work with you to see how to best accommodate your preferences.
Verbal Signatures
The public health emergency allowed your Care Coordinator to receive necessary signatures verbally. As of May 11, 2023, it is a federal rule that DSCC can no longer accept verbal signatures.
- Electronic signature options (such as through Adobe) remain an option for families when signing DSCC documents.
Reminders for Home Care Program Participants
End of Continued Medicaid and Program Enrollment for Those Found Ineligibile for Services
Starting April 1, 2023, DSCC began working with the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) to reassess all Home Care Program participants who received a notice of ineligibility for the program since March 1, 2020. Now that the public health emergency has ended, HFS’ notices accurately list the approved level of services for you or your child.
- If you or your child received a notice of ineligibility for services since March 1, 2020, your services will remain in place until HFS completes a reassessment. The reassessment looks at your updated and current medical documentation and will occur before Sept. 30, 2023.
- If you or your child received a notice of reduced nursing hours since March 1, 2020, your Care Coordinator will complete the next reassessment of services at your regularly scheduled renewal time. Services will remain in place until this reassessment occurs.
Reminders for Individuals in the Non-Waiver Program (Nursing and Personal Care Services)
Now that the public health emergency has ended, all individuals who turn 21 and are not on the Home and Community-Based Services Waiver for Those Who Are Medically Fragile Technology Dependent (MFTD), will not be eligible for services. If you or your child were on non-waiver services and turned 21 between the dates of March 1, 2020, and March 31, 2023, services will end on Sept. 30, 2023. Your Care Coordinator will work with you to ensure you or your child is set with an alternate state waiver, such as the Division of Rehabilitative Services (DRS), if applicable.
For all non-waiver participants under age 21, you must continue to have Medicaid coverage to receive Home Care services. It is important that you submit the redetermination form from Medicaid to keep your coverage. If you fail to meet Medicaid eligibility or do not respond in time, HFS will cancel your Medicaid case. Your Home Care services will then also end.
Additional COVID-19 Respite Allotment
During the public health emergency, HFS approved an additional 336 hours of respite to use before the regular respite allotment. This additional respite is for all Home Care MFTD waiver participants. Starting Nov. 11, 2023, this additional COVID respite will expire. All respite used after Nov. 11, 2023, will come from the standard respite allotment.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
During the public health emergency, nursing agencies were reimbursed for PPE when actively staffing nurses in the home. The PPE is for the nurses to use while caring for participants. This reimbursement of PPE supplies to the nursing agencies will end on Nov. 11, 2023.
Nursing Supervisory Visits
Nursing agencies resumed in-person supervisory visits in November 2020. Effective May 11, 2023, there can be no exceptions to replace in-person supervisory visits.
Important Medicaid/Insurance Updates for All DSCC Participants in Medicaid
These next sections explain important Medicaid updates now that the public health emergency and continuous Medicaid coverage period has ended. The end of the public health emergency may also affect your Medicaid coverage or your private health insurance coverage.
No More Copays or Premiums for Medicaid
Most Medicaid programs no longer have premiums or copays. All Kids Assist, Aid to the Aged Blind and Disabled (AABD) and Adult Medicaid do not have monthly premiums or copays for services. All Kids Premium 1, Premium 2 and Share programs are all called All Kids Assist now.
Medical Redetermination for Medicaid
Redetermination is when Medicaid looks to see if you are still eligible. They look at your residency, monthly income and other criteria to decide if you still qualify.
Medicaid sent forms to some members as early as May 2023. They will not complete redetermination on all cases at the same time. They will make the redeterminations over several months. This means that your Medicaid redetermination could happen now or later, even next year. It is important to make sure Medicaid has your current address. You can report your address online at Medicaid.illinois.gov or call (877) 805-5312. We also have a news post with more details about how to update your address.
Please watch your mail for letters from Medicaid.
Once you receive your redetermination notice, you will have about a month to respond. Medicaid may ask for more information about your income, residency or other information. If Medicaid asks for more information and you do not respond, your Medicaid coverage ends. You can return the redetermination in several ways:
- Online at ABE.illinois.gov using Manage My Case. Manage My Case is the quickest way to complete your redetermination.
- By mail.
- In person at a local Illinois Department of Human Services (DHS) Family Community Resource Center.
- By phone.
If you are in a Medicaid managed care plan (MCO), please remember the MCO does not do the redetermination. Medicaid does redetermination reviews. If you do not qualify for Medicaid anymore, your coverage ends. If you are still eligible, you keep your Medicaid coverage.
Don’t risk losing your health insurance. Please update your address with Illinois Medicaid. It’s easy, fast and free:
- Call (877) 805-5312 from 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
- Visit medicaid.illinois.gov.
- If you use a TTY, call (877) 204-1012.
Please contact your DSCC Care Coordinator if you have questions about Medicaid redetermination.
Telehealth Coverage
Telehealth coverage for Medicaid (and other insurances) is a permanent change and will continue after the public health emergency to give Medicaid time to review for any future changes. You can review the HFS Provider Notice issued May 9, 2023, on Telehealth to learn more.
An Illinois law signed in 2021 requires insurance to cover telehealth through 2027. This law does not require that practitioners or providers offer telehealth services. Therefore, your providers may not offer telehealth care. The law only says that insurance must pay providers for telehealth care if they provide it.
Pharmacy Billing and Prior Approval Requirements
Pharmacy billing and prior approval requirements for Medicaid will resume. There were many flexibilities that allowed Medicaid members to get medications. These include overriding the refill too soon and waiving requirements for the preferred drug list, quantity and brand limits. If you go to the pharmacy and they tell you that you can’t get your medications, ask your doctor to submit a prior approval to Medicaid. You can review the HFS Provider Notice issued May 3, 2023, on Pharmacy Billing to learn more. Contact your DSCC Care Coordinator for more help.
DME and Therapy Prior Approval Requirements
DME and therapy prior approval requirements for Medicaid will resume. There are some services that Medicaid did not require a prior approval for during the public health emergency. These services include therapy, home health and some durable medical equipment (DME). It is important for your providers to get a prior approval so that Medicaid reviews medical eligibility for the services. You can review the HFS Provider Notice issued April 4, 2023, on Prior Approval Requirements for more details. Contact your DSCC Care Coordinator for more help.
COVID-19 Tests, Treatment, and Vaccines
Uninsured individuals will no longer get access to special COVID-19 Medicaid eligibility which included testing, services, treatment, and vaccine administration during the public health emergency. You can view the HFS Provider Notice issued May 9, 2023, on Uninsured Population Special COVID-19 Coverage. Medicaid members who do have eligibility will continue to be able to access treatment, testing and vaccines.
Those with private insurance should also be able to continue to access treatment and vaccines as outlined by their plan.
Insurance plans will no longer cover over-the-counter tests for COVID-19 for free. Generally, a doctor will need to order the test and provide them in an office or similar facility. This may vary from plan to plan. You should call your insurance plan if you have questions. There may also be community organizations or public health departments still distributing COVID-19 tests and related services, such as vaccines, for free.
Extension of COBRA
During the public health emergency, there was an extension of election and notice deadlines for someone to take COBRA after losing or leaving a job. That will expire 60 days after May 11, 2023.
Temporary Special Enrollment Period
For individuals who no longer qualify for Medicaid after they go through redetermination, there is a special open enrollment period through the federal health insurance marketplace to purchase private insurance. It will extend from March 31, 2023, to July 31, 2024. This is only for people with a special qualifying event, such as losing coverage. Otherwise, the regular open enrollment period will be in November and December for individuals who need to enroll in private insurance through the marketplace. The Illinois website is GetCovered.illinois.gov and the federal website is HealthCare.gov.
Questions? Contact Us!
As a DSCC participant family, you can contact us with any questions or support your family needs.
Please note the best way to reach your care coordination team or any DSCC office is through our toll-free number of (800) 322-3722.
You can use this number to dial your Care Coordinator’s direct extension or to have our Customer Service Representatives connect you with the right person/team.
We have updated our phone system and ask everyone to use the (800) 322-3722 number as the simplest and fastest way to reach us.
Our office hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Please talk to your Care Coordinator if you have a need to speak outside of business hours.
You may also reach us through our general dscc@uic.edu inbox or use our Contact Us or Request a Callback forms on our website.
Please talk with your Care Coordinator if you have more questions or need to update your communication preferences.
We are thankful for your partnership throughout the changes related to the end of the pandemic and public health emergency. Our team will continue to help support your family and connect you with the right services and resources.