You can visit many community clinics even if you don’t have insurance. Services are often offered on a sliding scale—meaning you pay what you can—and many clinics provide interpretation in multiple languages.

Trusted providers include:

• Erie Family Health Centers
• Esperanza Health Centers
• Howard Brown Health (LGBTQ+ inclusive care)
• Lawndale Christian Health Center
• Heartland Health Centers

Services include:

• Check-ups and immunizations
• Women’s health and prenatal care
• Pediatric and adolescent care 
• Chronic illness care (e.g., diabetes, high blood pressure) 

Some immigrants qualify for public health insurance programs in Illinois:

Medicaid 
Medicaid is a joint federal and state program that provides healthcare coverage to eligible low- income adults, children, pregnant women, elderly adults, and people with disabilities.

To be eligible for federal Medicaid in Illinois, immigrants must have a qualified immigration status and, in many cases, meet a five-year waiting period after obtaining that status. This means they must wait 5 years after getting "qualified" immigration status before they can receive coverage. However, there are some exceptions to the waiting period. 

All Kids (for children)

All Kids is an Illinois-based healthcare program that provides insurance coverage for children under 19, regardless of immigration status. Over 1.6 million Illinois children are currently enrolled in All Kids. 

All Kids provides comprehensive healthcare coverage, including: 

• Doctor visits (well-child checkups and sick visits)
• Immunizations
• Hospital care
• Emergency services
• Prescription medications
• Dental care
• Vision care
• Mental health services
• Substance use disorder services
• Therapies (physical, occupational, speech)
• Medical equipment 

Eligibility
For your child to be eligible, they must:

• Be a resident of Illinois
• Be 18 or younger.
• Meet the insurance requirements 
• Meet certain income requirements (there are different levels of All Kids with varying income thresholds). All Kids Income Limit

Cost
The cost of All Kids varies depending on family income

• Some families get All Kids for free. For example, a family of four with a gross annual income up to $36,168 may not have to pay premiums or co-payments. 
• Some families pay monthly premiums. 
• Some families pay co-payments for doctor visits, prescriptions, and hospital services. Co-payment amounts vary based on income. There is a maximum annual limit for co-payments in some income brackets. 

How to enroll

1. Online: Fill in and submit an ABE Application online.
2. Download and print an application from the website.
3. Contact an All Kids Application Agent for help. You can find one near you here, or by calling the hotline. Call the All Kids Hotline at 1-866-ALL-KIDS (1-866-255-5437) to request an application by mail or for assistance. TTY users can call 1-877-204-1012. Translation services are available on the hotline. 

After applying

All Kids will notify you of the decision by mail. If your child qualifies, you will receive an All Kids member handbook and an HFS Medical Card. Most enrollees will need to pick a health plan and primary care provider (PCP); the Illinois Client Enrollment Broker will contact you when it's time to choose. Until then, you can call Illinois Health Connect at 1-877-912-1999 (TTY: 1-866-565-8577) for help finding a doctor. 

A child eligible for All Kids Assist, Share, or Premium Levels 1 and 2 has 12 months of guaranteed coverage, unless they move out of Illinois or turn 19. A renewal notice will be sent about 10 months after coverage begins. 

Help applying: 

• Get Covered Illinois
• Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services
• Healthcare Access | ICIRR

Chicago offers trauma-informed, multilingual mental health support for immigrants and refugees. No insurance is required at many sites.

Services include:

• Individual therapy and family counseling
• Youth mental health support
• PTSD, anxiety, and depression care
• Support for domestic violence and trauma recovery

Access care through:

• City of Chicago Mental Health Centers
• The Kedzie Center
• Community Counseling Centers of Chicago (C4)
• Healing Horizons / Caged Dreams

Healing Horizons offers group therapy, community healing events, art therapy, and wellness coaching—both online and in person, in multiple languages.

Healthcare and mental health resources are available through:

• Howard Brown Health
• Affinity Community Services
• Center on Halsted

Many neighborhoods host free wellness events, group counseling, and culturally specific care. Visit your local community center or use the Interactive Wellness Map to find programs near you.

• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (24/7, all languages)
• NAMI Chicago Helpline: 833-626-4244
• Illinois Warm Line (non-crisis emotional support): 866-359-7953 
• Domestic Violence Helpline (24/7 multilingual): 877-863-6338