MILLIONS OF AMERICANS ARE AT RISK OF LOSING THEIR HEALTHCARE COVERAGE, INCLUDING HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF ILLINOIS RESIDENTS.

WE HAVE MORE ON WHAT IS AT STAKE AND WHAT PEOPLE CAN DO TO KEEP THEIR COVERAGE.

AMANDA?

>> Reporter: BRANDIS, DURING THE PANDEMIC, THE NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS ON GOVERNMENT HEALTHCARE INSURANCE GROUP ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

DURING COVID CONGRESS MADE IT ILLEGAL FOR STATES TO KICK ANYONE OFF OF MEDICAID.

BUT RECIPIENTS WILL SOON LOSE THAT COVERAGE.

HERE IS GOVERNOR PRITZKER ABOUT IT EARLIER TODAY.

>> MANY STATES RUSHED TO PUSH THEIR RESIDENTS OFF OF A CLIFF.

BUT I WANT TO BE CLEAR.

HERE IN ILLINOIS THERE WILL BE NO COVERAGE LEFT.

PRE-DETERMINATIO NS AND RENEWALS IN ILLINOIS ARE HAPPENING THROUGH A DELIBERATE AND A CAREFUL PROCESS ON A ROLLING BASIS OVER THE COMING YEAR.

>> Reporter: THAT IS STARTING NOW.

THESE READY TO RENEW NOTICES WILL BEGIN TO ARRIVE IN MAILBOXES THIS WEEK.

MORE THAN 113,000 ILLINOIS CASES ARE UP FOR RENEWAL BY JUNE.

THE STATE SAYS THAT IT CAN AUTO RENEW FOR SOME, BUT THE OTHER HALF MUST HAVE THE PAPERWORK IN BY JUNE 1st.

SO PAY ATTENTION.

>> WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THE PEOPLE KNOW WHAT THEY ARE LOOKING FOR AND THAT THEY DON'T GET FOOLED BY A POTENTIAL SCAM OR SOMETHING ELSE.

THIS PAPERWORK OR A.GOV EMAIL.

>> Reporter: THERE ARE OTHER OPTIONS BESIDES'S NAME SNAIL MAIL.

YOU CAN VISIT THE WEBSITE FOR BENEFITS ELIGIBILITY OR CALL THE PHONE NUMBER.

THE SECRETARY OF THE DHS PROMISES THAT THE PROCESS IS NO LONGER BROKEN.

>> WE HAVE GONE FROM SEVEN TO EIGHT HOURS WAITING TO TALK TO AN OPERATOR TO NOW LESS THAN A TWO MINUTES ON AVERAGE.

WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE CALLING THE TELEPHONE NUMBER, NOBODY HAS SIX, SEVEN HOURS OF THEIR DAY TO TALK TO A PERSON.

>> Reporter: YEAH, NOBODY HAS THAT TIME.

BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS THAT ANYBODY CAN RECEIVE MEDICAID.

YOU HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT YOUR STATE HAS CURRENT CONTACT INFORMATION LIKE AN ADDRESS.

OF COURSE YOU CAN'T VERY WELL GET THAT REMINDER NOTICE IN THE MAIL IF THE STATE DOESN'T KNOW WHERE TO SEND IT!

THIS IS THE REASON WHY BEFORE THE PANDEMIC TOOK HOLD PEOPLE DID NOT KNOW THEY HAD COVERAGE.

>> I WAS A HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT RAISING A CHILD AT THE AGE OF 16 YEARS OLD AND RECEIVING MEDICAID.

RECEIVING ASSISTANCE HELPED ME TO RAISE MY DAUGHTER, COMPLETE MY HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE EDUCATION AND PUT ME ON TRACK TO BECOME THE TL OF TCC.

>> Reporter: THERE ARE LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT CHICAGO OFFERING PRIMARY AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTHCARE TO THE MANY PATIENTS WHO USE MEDICAID.

AMONG STATE PARTNERS, THEY ARE WORKING WITH ILLINOIS TO GET THE WORD OUT ON SOCIAL MEDIA .

BRANDIS, CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE ALSO INVOLVED IN THE OUTREACH EFFORT.

FAMILIES CAN REACH OUT TO THE HEALTH AND WELLNESS BENEFITS TEAM .

70% OF STUDENTS RELY ON MEDICAID FOR HEALTHCARE INSURANCE.

>> AN IMPORTANT DEADLINE TO KEEP AN EYE ON.

THANK YOU.

AND WHAT ABOUT PEOPLE WHO NO LONGER QUALIFY?

>> Reporter: SO YOU MIGHT GET SOMETHING ELSE IN THE MAIL THAT SAYS THAT.

FILL OUT YOUR RENEWAL FORM SO THAT THE STATE HAS RECURRENT INFORMATION ON FILE.

IT COULD BE USED FOR OTHER BENEFITS.

SEE IF STATE AGENCIES CAN HELP ANYBODY CONNECT IN THIS SITUATION WITH A DIFFERENT FORM OF WHAT THE