How to apply for Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) in Illinois

Who it's for

PACE is a comprehensive, integrated care program for seniors who are certified as needing a nursing-home level of care but want to keep living in the community. A single PACE organization becomes the participant's complete medical home — primary care, specialists, hospital care, prescriptions, physical and occupational therapy, dental, vision, hearing, mental health, transportation to appointments, meals, and adult day care at a PACE center. For Illinoisans who have both Medicare and Medicaid, PACE covers all of it with no out-of-pocket cost. Illinois launched PACE in 2024. HFS's designated organizations, by region: Kinship PACE of Illinois and Lawndale Christian Health Center (Chicago's West Side); Habitat Health at Annie's Place and Esperanza Health Centers (Chicago's South Side); BoldAge PACE Illinois (southern Cook County); OSF HealthCare (Peoria area); and Habitat Health at Stella's Place (East St. Louis / Metro-East). Each serves a specific ZIP-code list. PACE is for people 55 and older who need a nursing-facility level of care, live within a PACE organization's service area, and can be served safely in the community. Participants agree to use only PACE-network providers.

What you'll need

• Proof of Illinois residency within a PACE organization's service area
• Proof of age 55+ (driver's license, state ID, or birth certificate)
• Medicare card (if enrolled) and Illinois Medicaid card (if enrolled)
• Recent medical records or a physician statement supporting the need for nursing-facility-level care
• List of current medications and providers

Where to apply

Step by step

1. Gather proof that you live in Illinois within a PACE organization's service area.
2. Gather proof of age 55 or older, such as a driver's license, state ID, or birth certificate.
3. Collect your Medicare card if enrolled, your Illinois Medicaid card if enrolled, recent medical records or a physician statement showing you need a nursing-facility level of care, and a list of your current medications and providers.
4. Apply online for PACE in Illinois.
5. Complete any follow-up requests from the PACE organization and provide any records needed to review your level-of-care need and service area.
6. Review the program rules before enrollment. You must live in the service area, be certified as needing a nursing-facility level of care, and agree to use PACE-network providers only.
7. If you want PACE with no out-of-pocket cost, make sure you are enrolled in Illinois Medicaid. Service areas are limited, and you may need to check which designated PACE organization serves your ZIP code.

What to expect: After you apply, the PACE organization reviews your documents and checks whether you live in its service area and meet the nursing-facility level-of-care requirement. Processing times vary, so ask the agency or PACE organization for an estimate. If you enroll, you will use the PACE organization as your complete medical home. PACE is ongoing, but your nursing-facility level-of-care certification must be reassessed every year.

Renewals

ongoing (annual re-assessment of nursing-facility-level certification)