Illinois CHIP: Children's Health Insurance Program
Updated August 2026
Illinois operates a combination CHIP program called All Kids, funded by federal Title XXI dollars and administered by HFS. All Kids covers children up to 318% of the Federal Poverty Level — one of the highest income limits for children's public coverage in the United States. Over 1.6 million Illinois children are currently enrolled, per HFS.
318% FPL
Highest children's income limit in the nation
Any immigration status
No documentation required
1.6M+
Children currently enrolled in All Kids
All Kids covers children regardless of immigration status — a unique Illinois program
All Kids was launched by Illinois in 2006 and covers all children regardless of citizenship or immigration status, using a combination of federal CHIP funds (for eligible children) and state funds (for undocumented children). The application at abe.illinois.gov screens for both federal Medicaid/CHIP and the state-funded All Kids component automatically.
All Kids launched in 2006 — one of the earliest universal children's coverage programs in the U.S.
All Kids was launched in 2006 under Governor Rod Blagojevich with the stated goal of providing health insurance to every child in Illinois regardless of income, immigration status, or health condition. At the time, it was one of the few state programs explicitly designed for near-universal children's coverage — predating the Affordable Care Act's CHIP expansions by several years.
The program drew national attention as a model for broad children's coverage. Illinois was among the first states to use state funds to cover children who did not meet federal immigration requirements, a policy that remains in place today. Per the National Academy for State Health Policy (NASHP), Illinois operated a combination CHIP program with 296,186 children covered in CHIP-funded All Kids enrollment in federal fiscal year 2018.
Who qualifies for All Kids in Illinois?
Children qualify for All Kids if they meet these requirements.
- Age 18 or younger (up to the 19th birthday)
- Illinois resident
- Family income at or below 318% of the Federal Poverty Level
- All income-eligible children qualify regardless of immigration status — Illinois uses state funds for children who do not meet federal immigration requirements
Children who have other insurance can still qualify for All Kids at most income levels. At the Assist and Share tiers, having employer-sponsored insurance does not disqualify a child. At Premium Level 2, a child must have been uninsured for 3 months, unless an exemption applies (COBRA, premium exceeds 5% of household income, special health care needs, etc.).
All Kids coverage tiers: what you pay depends on income
All Kids is structured in four tiers based on family income and size, per the HFS All Kids Income Standards & Cost Sharing Chart. Lower-income families pay nothing; higher-income families pay modest premiums and copays. Per HFS, well-child checkups and immunizations are always free regardless of tier.
| Tier | Monthly income (family of 4) | Monthly premium | Max co-pays/yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| All Kids Assist | Up to $3,246 | None | None |
| All Kids Share | $3,247–$3,467 | None | $100/family |
| All Kids Premium Level 1 | $3,468–$4,615 | $15 (1 child) – $40 (5+ children) | $100/family |
| All Kids Premium Level 2 | $4,616–$7,023 | $40/child (max $80 for 2+ children) | $500/child (hospital) |
All Kids Assist
- Monthly income (family of 4)
- Up to $3,246
- Monthly premium
- None
- Max co-pays/yr
- None
All Kids Share
- Monthly income (family of 4)
- $3,247–$3,467
- Monthly premium
- None
- Max co-pays/yr
- $100/family
All Kids Premium Level 1
- Monthly income (family of 4)
- $3,468–$4,615
- Monthly premium
- $15 (1 child) – $40 (5+ children)
- Max co-pays/yr
- $100/family
All Kids Premium Level 2
- Monthly income (family of 4)
- $4,616–$7,023
- Monthly premium
- $40/child (max $80 for 2+ children)
- Max co-pays/yr
- $500/child (hospital)
Income ranges below are exact monthly figures for a family of 4, taken directly from the current HFS chart. Premium Level 1 charges $15/month for one child, $25/month for two children, and $5 for each additional child, capped at $40/month for 5 or more children. Premium Level 2 charges a flat $40/child/month, capped at $80/month for 2 or more children.
What All Kids covers for enrolled children
Per HFS, All Kids is complete health insurance for children.
- Doctor visits — well-child checkups and sick visits
- Specialist care and referrals
- Hospital stays (inpatient and outpatient)
- Emergency services and urgent care
- Prescription drugs
- Vision care — eye exams, glasses
- Dental care through DentaQuest — includes exams, cleanings, fillings, extractions, and orthodontia when medically necessary
- Speech therapy, physical therapy, and other therapies when medically necessary
- Medical equipment and supplies
Children with special health care needs who are enrolled in All Kids receive services under the EPSDT mandate, which requires all medically necessary care to be covered — even if a specific service is not listed in the standard benefit package.
How to apply for All Kids
The easiest way to apply is through ABE at abe.illinois.gov. A single application covers all household members for Medicaid, All Kids, SNAP, and other programs. You do not need a separate application for All Kids — ABE routes children to the appropriate coverage tier based on age and household income.
You can also call the All Kids Hotline at 1-866-ALL-KIDS (1-866-255-5437), apply at a local DHS office, or use an All Kids Application Agent in your community. Agents are located at schools, community health centers, hospitals, and other organizations throughout Illinois.
All Kids vs CHIP in neighboring states
Comparison as reported by HFS; dental and immigration policy details vary by state.
| Feature | Illinois All Kids | Ohio Healthy Start | Indiana CHIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upper income limit | 318% FPL | 300% FPL | 250% FPL |
| Immigration status | Any (all children) | Citizens / lawfully present | Citizens / lawfully present |
| Monthly premium | $0–$105/child (tiered) | Low (income-based) | $0–small |
| Dental included | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Upper income limit
- Illinois All Kids
- 318% FPL
- Ohio Healthy Start
- 300% FPL
- Indiana CHIP
- 250% FPL
Immigration status
- Illinois All Kids
- Any (all children)
- Ohio Healthy Start
- Citizens / lawfully present
- Indiana CHIP
- Citizens / lawfully present
Monthly premium
- Illinois All Kids
- $0–$105/child (tiered)
- Ohio Healthy Start
- Low (income-based)
- Indiana CHIP
- $0–small
Dental included
- Illinois All Kids
- Yes
- Ohio Healthy Start
- Yes
- Indiana CHIP
- Yes
Illinois Medicaid
- ABE online application: abe.illinois.gov
- All Kids Hotline: 1-866-ALL-KIDS (1-866-255-5437)
- HFS All Kids income standards: hfs.illinois.gov/medicalprograms/allkids/income.html
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