Training Materials

Training Materials

These presentations are useful for advocates who are either new to ABE or need a refresher. They provide detailed information on the ABE application as well as screen shots of the application pages. One presentation was created by the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) and the Illinois Department of Human Services (DHS), and the other was created by the Starting Strong collaborative in partnership with Illinois Health Matters, Ever Thrive Illinois, Health & Disability Advocates and the Shriver Center.

·  The Application for Benefits Eligibility (ABE)-An Introduction for Community Partners, including certified Illinois Navigators, In-Person Counselors and Certified Application Agents)

Link to DHS Presentation

Link to DHS Webinar

·  Starting Strong for Community Health webinar - The ACA & Application for Benefits Eligibility (ABE)

Link to Starting Strong Webinar Slides

Link to Starting Strong Webinar

·  HelpHub-An assistance forum where enrollment and outreach specialists in Illinois can share their experiences helping consumers enroll into new health care options under the Affordable Care Act. Professionals can post questions and receive answers from topic experts and other advocates. This is a very active forum and an excellent resource. To participate, you must request an invitation. To do so visit the link below.

Link to HelpHub

·  The Make Medicare Work Coalition (MMW) is a collaboration to promote access to affordable health care options in Illinois. MMW is led by AgeOptions, Health & Disability Advocates, and Progress Center for Independent Living. They provide materials, training, and technical assistance to professionals serving older adults and people with disabilities to enable them to help their clients access health care and prescription drug services and supports. This page links to a MMW fact sheet which explains Medicaid spenddown and how the Medicaid Spenddown program can be used to help an individual enroll in the Extra Help program. (The Extra Help program assists people on Medicare with the cost of prescription drugs.) Medicaid spenddown can be used as a tool to access Extra Help benefits even if the individual exceeds the Extra Help income and asset allowance.

Link to MMW Medicaid Spenddown Brief

·  Illinois Health Resources is a joint project between Get Covered Illinois and University of Illinois at Chicago School of Public Health. The website offers a directory of fact sheets, websites and other resources on a variety of topics to help advocates connect consumers to social services and health care resources.

Link to Illinois Health Resources