Resources and services

Get help in a crisis
 

No matter what time of day, you’re not alone. We have resources in place to help you in a crisis.
 

If you have thoughts of harming yourself or someone else, get help right away. You have options:
 

• Our behavioral health hotline: Call Member Services at 1-866-329-4701 (TTY: 711) and choose option 1 for behavioral health crisis.
• CARES: If you or someone in your family needs immediate help with a crisis, you can call CARES anytime at 1-800-345-9049 (TTY: 1-866-794-0374). They offer mobile crisis response and can send a trained behavioral health specialist to your location.
• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988. Trained counselors can help you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can also chat online with a counselor through their  service.Lifeline Chat service.
• Dial 911: Call 911 or go to the nearest hospital emergency room. 

Need a quick answer to a health question? The 24-Hour Nurse Line is here for you. If you can’t wait until you can see your doctor, just call us at 1-866-329-4701 (TTY: 711). Then, follow the prompts to reach the Nurse Line.

Through secure video on your computer, you can meet with a doctor for treatment of common health conditions. Cold or flu? Great reasons to use telehealth. You can also get help with allergies, sinus problems and more. You can even get support for other things like food, housing/rent and employment. We work with MyOwnDoctor to connect you to telehealth.
 

More about MyOwnDoctor

If you don’t have a ride to your appointment, we’ll help you get one. These rides are for trips to the pharmacy and medical services we cover, like doctor visits, dental care and other covered services.
 

You can bring a guest to appointments, if needed. Just call Member Services to schedule a ride. And be sure to schedule your ride 2 business days before you need it.

• Transportation benefits – English (PDF)
• Transportation benefits – Spanish (PDF)

Need language help? Just call 1-866-329-4701 (TTY: 711). You can get:
 

• Interpreter services at no cost during any service or complaint process, including American Sign Language and real-time oral interpretation
• Interpreter services for your medical visit (be sure to call 48 hours before your visit)
• Info in another format, like audio, large print and braille
• Materials in other languages if your primary language isn’t English

• National Child Abuse Hotline 1-800-4-A-CHILD (1-800-422-4453)
  
• National Center on Elder Abuse 1-855-500-3537  
  
• National Domestic Violence Hotline 1-800-799-7233 (TTY: 1-800-787-3224)  
• National Sexual Assault Hotline 1-800-656-4673 

We know you have lots of questions about COVID-19. We’re here to support you with answers. Just check these resources to learn more: 
 

• COVID-19 at-home tests
  
• COVID-19 info and updates

Behavioral health includes services for mental health and substance use. Do you or someone you love need help with behavioral health issues? There are many programs out there that can help.
 

Mental and behavioral health info
 

Some links and resources you’ll want to check out:

• Alcoholics Anonymous® website
  
• Narcotics Anonymous website
• National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG)
• Check the Facts for Families Guide for info on topics that affect kids, teens and their families.
• Find info about topics from attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in college students to self-injury in adolescents. Just check the Moving Into Adulthood Resource Center.
• Boys Town National Hotline® (for teens, parents and families) 1-800-448-3000
• Call the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) HelpLine at 1-800-950-6264. You can call Monday through Friday, 10 AM to 6 PM ET. Or email Info@NAMI.org. You can also visit the NAMI website for answers to common questions about mental health.
• Learn more about depression from the National Institute of Mental Health.
• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) website
• SAMHSA’s National Helpline (for drug and alcohol treatment referral and service info) 1-800-662-HELP (1-800-662-4357) (TTY: 1-800-487-4889)
• National Eating Disorders Association

If you’re afraid for your safety, you can take action. People who experience domestic violence and sexual assault can get legal protection. This also includes help with stalking and restraining orders.

If someone is hurting you, reach out for help by calling National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233 (TTY: 1-800-787-3224)
 

For your safety: If you visit websites for help with domestic violence, be sure to erase your browser history. Check the Safety Net Project website to learn more.

Whether you smoke or use other forms of nicotine, we can help you quit. It’s not easy, but with the right plan and support, you can reach your goal.

Just check out these resources to help you get started:

• Benefits of being smoke-free (PDF)
• Smokefree.gov
  
• American Cancer Society guide to quitting smoking

Looking for senior care can be challenging, and you may not know where to start. Learn about your options, info on costs and how the process works.

• HealthChoice Illinois
  
• The Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS)

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

We work with our local partners to ensure you get the support you need.

Here’s a list of Illinois materials and resources you might find useful:

• The Application for Benefits Eligibility (ABE)
• The Guide to Completing the ABE (PDF)
• Illinois food pantries
• Assistance in your home and community from the Illinois Department on Aging

• The American Diabetes Association works to prevent and cure diabetes. See how they help improve the lives of people affected by diabetes.
• The American Heart Association offers info about heart disease prevention, including ways to be heart healthy.
  
• The Arthritis Foundation offers info and tools to help people live a better life with arthritis.

Members with special health care needs have medical conditions that will last at least one year. If you or your child has special health care needs, you can get help.
 

Just check out these resources to learn more:

• Autism Society
  
• National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
  
• National Association for Down Syndrome
  
• The Arc
  

• The Administration for Community Living: 1-800-677-1116
• The Alzheimer’s Association: 1-800-272-3900
• The American Cancer Society: 1-800-227-2345
• The American Diabetes Association: 1-800-342-2383
• The American Heart Association: 1-800-242-8721
• The American Red Cross: 1-800-733-2767
• The Arthritis Foundation: 1-800-283-7800
• Easterseals: 1-800-221-6827
• The Epilepsy Foundation: 1-800-332-1000
• Caregiver Resource Centers from the Illinois Department on Aging: 1-800-683-2458
• The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society: 1-800-955-4572
• The National Down Syndrome Congress: 1-800-232-6372
• The National Down Syndrome Society: 1-800-221-4602
• The National Kidney Foundation: 1-800-KIDNEYS (1-877-543-6397)
• The U.S. Social Security Administration: 1-800-772-1213

Learn more about early childhood education. You can also find a Head Start near you.

WIC is a national nutrition program for pregnant or breastfeeding women and families with children younger than 5. The Illinois WIC program provides these services at no cost:
 

• Help with breastfeeding questions  
• Referrals to agencies  
• Healthy food, like fruits and vegetables   
• Healthy eating tips  

You can call WIC to see if you and your child can use the service: 1-217-782-2166. Or visit the WIC website for more info.

United Way focuses on creating community-based and community-led solutions for a good quality of life. Find a United Way near you.