Medicare plays a key role in providing health and financial security to beneficiaries residing in Illinois. With more than 2.2 million Illinois beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare, we’ll cover some very important information below about Medicare in Illinois. We want to help you better understand your options and make the decision-process as seamless as possible once you’re ready to enroll in Medicare or discover different coverage options.
Illinois Medicare Advantage (Part C), Medicare Supplement (Medigap) Insurance and Medicare Prescription Drug Plans (Part D)
For more information on how you can save money on your out-of-pocket costs with a Part C, Part D, or Medigap plan, please click the plans below to learn more. Licensed agents can also answer any of your questions and help you find a plan that fits your needs, lifestyle, and budget by clicking here.
Illinois Medicare Enrollments
Original Medicare Plans (Part A and B)
Medicare Advantage & Other Health Plans
Stand-alone Medicare Part D (Drug Plans)
Total Medicare Beneficiaries in Illinois
Who Qualifies for Medicare in Illinois?
Medicare covers most Illinois residents who are 65 or older, and it also covers disabled Illinois residents. In general, Medicare enrollment in Illinois works the same way as it does in the rest of the country. If you qualify for Original Medicare, also known as Part A and Part B, it will help cover 80% of your health care costs.
When you’re first eligible for Medicare, you have a 7-month Initial Enrollment Period to sign up for Part A and/or Part B. If you’re eligible for Medicare when you turn 65, you can sign up during the 7-month period that:
- Begins 3 months before the month you turn 65
- Includes the month you turn 65
- Ends 3 months after the month you turn 65
In most cases, if you don’t sign up for Part B when you’re first eligible, you’ll have to pay a late enrollment penalty. You’ll be responsible for paying this penalty for as long as you have Part B, and you could have a gap in your health coverage.
Once you reach Medicare eligibility, you can begin choosing additional coverage options to help pay for the remaining 20% of your medical expenses through Medicare Advantage (Part C), Medigap, and/or a Medicare Prescription Drug (Part D) plan.
Local Medicare Health Plan Resources in Illinois
Senior Health Insurance Program (SHIP): SHIP is a free statewide health insurance counseling service for Medicare beneficiaries and their caregivers.
Contact: Call 1-800-252-8966. Contact details for local SHIP sites can also be found on their website.Senior HelpLine provides free information to seniors aged 60 and older and their caregivers throughout Illinois. Professional staff briefly assess needs, send literature, and write referrals for a range of services such as care coordination services, the Long-Term Care Ombudsman program, legal services, transportation, employment, and nutrition services.
Contact: Call 1-800-252-8966, 1-888-206-1327 for TTY or email the service at aging.ilsenior@illinois.gov.Northwestern Illinois Area Agency on Aging (NIAAA): NIAAA has been meeting the needs of older adults and their families since 1974. NIAAA serves a nine-county region consisting of Boone, Carroll, DeKalb, Jo Daviess, Lee, Ogle, Stephenson, Whiteside and Winnebago Counties. NIAAA is a non-profit organization and has been designated by the Illinois Department on Aging to be the area agency on aging for northwestern Illinois.
Contact: NIAAA lists all the contact details on their website.
The licensed agents that are partnered with Timefor65 can help you compare the availability, benefits, and costs of Medicare plans in your specific region of Illinois. Our process makes it easier for you to access your Medicare eligibility in Illinois so that you receive personalized, affordable, and easy-to-use coverage options and solutions. Fill out the form or give us a call at (866) 327‑0148 anytime to get a free quote or to ask any questions.