ServicesHealthcare Enrollment Assistance

BY APPOINTMENT ONLY

DeKalb County Health Department offers healthcare enrollment assistance for Marketplace and Medicaid insurance. Our Health Promotion Specialist is a Certified Application Counselor and is bilingual in English and Spanish. There is no charge for assistance.

How do I set up an appointment?

Phone: 815-748-2498
Email: enrollhealth@dekalbcounty.org

What will I need for an appointment?

DCHD’s Certified Application Counselor will speak with you by phone to set up your appointment and review required documents with you.

Possible required items may include:

  • Current proof of address
  • Current proof of income (pay stubs, unemployment paperwork, self-employment records, etc.)
  • Previous year’s tax return and W-2s (for Marketplace applications)
  • Photo ID
  • Birth certificate
  • Naturalization Certificate, if applicable
  • Social security card
  • Proof of pregnancy, if applicable
  • Insurance cards, if any household member is covered by another insurance plan
  • Immigration documents, if applicable
  • Proof of cancellation of any previous insurance coverage

Marketplace Insurance

Illinois now has its own state-based insurance Marketplace. New for plan year 2026, Illinois customers will use GetCovered.Illinois.gov to apply for financial help and enroll in 2026 coverage. The insurance Marketplace offers standardized health insurance plans to individuals, families and small businesses. Eligibility requirements apply.

Key Points to Remember

Open Enrollment: November 1-January 15

  • Illinois customers must use GetCovered.Illinois.gov
  • Enroll by December 15 for coverage to begin January 1
  • Enroll by January 15 for coverage to begin February 1

Special Enrollment Periods: any time during the year

  • Eligibility based on a Qualifying Life Event
  • Usually have 60 days to enroll in a plan
  • See Get Covered Illinois for details

Medicaid Insurance

Medicaid is a government-funded health insurance program for low-income individuals and families. There are special programs for children, pregnant women, the elderly, and people with disabilities. Eligibility requirements apply; some programs are open to Illinois residents regardless of immigration status.

Medicaid applications can be submitted at any time during the year.

For more information or to make an appointment, contact our Health Promotion Specialist at 815-748-2498. You can also visit ABE.Illinois.gov or call the IDHS “Help is Here” toll-free line at 1-833-2-FIND-HELP (1-833-234-6343).

For Medicaid or Medicare assistance for individuals age 65 or older, please contact:

                Elder Care Services

                1701 E. Lincoln Hwy, DeKalb, IL

                (815) 758-6550

Medicaid application assistance is also available at our local DHS office:

                DHS Family Community Resource Center

                1629 Afton Road, Sycamore, IL

                Phone: (815) 895-8667                 TTY: (866) 322-8423

Fraud and Scams

Be aware of these common fraud and scam tactics. The DeKalb County Health Department will not charge you for any fees with the free healthcare enrollment assistance program.

Protect yourself from people impersonating assisters and committing fraud and scams:

  • The Marketplace, assister organizations, and their state will never ask for your credit card information or payment to obtain help with applying for, keeping, or qualifying for health coverage.
  • Assisters will always provide a Privacy Notice Statement and obtain their consent or “authorization” before discussing or accessing their personal information.
  • The Marketplace and assister organizations will never ask consumers for their password. Consumers should never share their Marketplace account password with anyone, even if they say they are from the Marketplace.
Warning ! signFor more information and answers to frequently asked questions, including when and how consumers should report suspected fraud, visit this webpage.

Report Fraud/OIG Hotline

To report suspected cases of fraud, waste, or abuse in Federal HHS programs, use our online OIG Hotline form. You may also call, mail, or fax us using the information below.

Online: https://oig.hhs.gov/fraud/report-fraud/index.asp
Phone: 1-800-HHS-TIPS (1-800-447-8477)

Fax: (800) 223-8164
TTY: 1-800-377-4950

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Office of Inspector General
ATTN: OIG HOTLINE OPERATIONS
P.O. Box 23489
Washington, DC 20026