Eligible person are required to pay a premium. The premiums charged are at 125%-150% of the average rates charged individuals for comparable major medical coverage that is offered by five or more of the largest insurance companies that offer policies in the individual health insurance market in Illinois.

Who is eligible?

There are a number of plans available, so eligibility varies based on the plan that fits your needs. The plans are HIPPA- CHIP (for specific individuals who have exhausted COBRA); TAA-CHIP (for persons certified under the Trade Adjustment Act or receive a pension through the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation); and Traditional CHIP (for individuals who have no insurance and who cannot purchase health insurance because of specific medical conditions).

HIPAA-CHIP: This plan allows individuals who have had group insurance to obtain coverage that is guaranteed without limitations on preexisting conditions. You may be eligible for HIPAA-CHIP if you:

• are a resident of Illinois;
• have accrued a total of 18 months or more of prior coverage with no more than a 90-day break between periods of coverage;
• have most recent creditable coverage provided under a group plan, government plan or church plan; and,
• have elected and exhausted continuation under federal COBRA or state continuation laws, if offered.
• TAA-CHIP: To receive this benefit you are Trade Adjustment Act (TAA) certified or if you receive a pension from the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC), you may be able to qualify for CHIP coverage under the provisions of the Health Coverage Tax Credit (HCTC).. In order to qualify for the TAA-CHIP plan you must::
• Have at least 3 months prior creditable coverage;
• Not have a break in coverage of longer than 63 days;
• Be a resident of Illinois; and
• If eligible as a PBGC recipient must be age 55-65.
• Traditional CHIP: This program is designed for individuals who have no insurance and who cannot purchase health insurance because of medical conditions. It may also be available to persons who have other coverage available to them but which is more expensive than CHIP. Coverage provided has a preexisting conditions exclusion of six months and there may be a delay in getting coverage because plan enrollment may be at capacity. The Traditional CHIP program also has a plan designed for persons on Medicare who are not yet age 65.  Eligibility Requirements Include:
• Residency of Illinois for at least 180 days;
• U.S. citizenship or permanent resident alien status;
• An application for individual health insurance must be made and rejected by an insurer due to health reasons; or
• A physician’s letter confirming any of the Presumptive Medical Conditions; or
• Even if offered insurance coverage similar to CHIP, a person may be eligible if that coverage cost the applicant personally more than CHIP.
• have one of 31 presumptive medical conditions, i.e., conditions presumed to result in automatic rejection by an insurance company:
  • Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) or AIDS Related Complex (ARC)
  • Lupus Erythematosus Disseminate
  • Metastatic Cancer
  • Angina Pectoris
  • Multiple or Disseminated Sclerosis
  • Arteriosclerosis Obliterans
  • Muscular Atrophy or Dystrophy
  • Cerebrovascular Accident
  • (Stroke) Myasthenia Gravis
  • Chemical Dependency Myotonia
  • Cirrhosis of the Liver
  • Paraplegia or Quadriplegia
  • Coronary Insufficiency
  • Parkinson's Disease
  • Coronary Occlusion
  • Poliomyelitis
  • Cystic Fibrosis
  • Polycystic Kidney
  • Friedreich's Ataxia
  • Severe Traumatic Brain Injury
  • Hemophilia (Classical)
  • Sickle Cell Anemia
  • Hodgkin's Disease
  • Leukemia
  • Silicosis Pneumoconiosis (Black Lung)
  • Huntington's Chorea
  • Syringomyelia
  • Juvenile Diabetes
  • Wilson's Disease
  • Kidney Failure Requiring Dialysis

Where to apply?

Since the programs available are complex, you may want to call the CHIP program 1-800-367-6410 (Illinois Residents) or 1-217-782-6333. You can also apply on-line or download an application.