Maternal Healthcare

A large segment of healthcare comes from safety net providers, which organize and deliver health care and related services to uninsured, Medicaid patients, and other vulnerable people. Safety net providers in Chicago include some hospitals; community health centers; federally qualified health centers (FQHCs); and free and charitable clinics.

How to access Chicago’s safety net healthcare system

• FQHCs: There are 22 FQHC systems with 150+ locations in Chicago. Find a FQHC near you.
• FQHC look-alikes clinics: A network of community-based health care providers that meet FQHC requirements, but do not receive health center program funding. Find a FQHC look-alike.
• Free & charitable clinics: Free and charitable clinics provide medical, dental and pharmaceutical services for free or at a nominal fee to low-income people without health insurance. Some clinics will provide services to people who have insurance but cannot find a doctor or afford the deductibles. Find a free & charitable clinic.

Special maternal health insurance options

Illinois HFS Family Planning Program

• This program provides expanded Medicaid coverage and may provide supplemental insurance benefits if your insurance may not cover some reproductive health services.
  • The Family Planning Presumptive Eligibility (FPPE) provides immediate, temporary medical coverage for reproductive health and family planning related services to all eligible Illinois residents. 
  • The HFS Family Planning Program provides ongoing medical coverage for reproductive health and family planning related services to all eligible Illinois residents   
• ICAN has a quiz in both English and Spanish that can help show you if you qualify for either program.

Moms and babies: Programs for pregnant women

• Medicaid Presumptive Eligibility (MPE) offers immediate temporary coverage for outpatient healthcare for pregnant women.  
• Moms & Babies covers healthcare for women while they are pregnant for up to 12 months after the baby is born. Moms & Babies coverage is the full Medicaid benefit package, which covers both outpatient healthcare and inpatient hospital care, including labor and delivery; primary and specialty care; and prescription drugs.