September 16, 2025
On Thursday of last week (Thursday, September 11), CCHCC hosted a community meeting to help explain the provisions of the so-called “One Big Beautiful Bill Act”, which includes massive spending cuts to healthcare and food programs, among other programs that people rely on.
Thank you to everyone who attended this meeting, and who helped spread the word about the meeting!
As promised, CCHCC wanted to share the materials that we developed for this meeting, to help our community understand the devastating impacts of the budget bill on health and food programs. We are also sharing the video recording of the meeting. Please see below for the links to the materials and the video:
Our PowerPoint Presentation
https://www.healthcareconsumers.org/files/2025-09-11_OBBA_Presentation.pdf
Our handout on the impacts on health and food programs, nationally and in Illinois:
https://www.healthcareconsumers.org/files/2025-09-11_OBBA_Impacts.pdf
Our handout on the harms of work requirements and why work requirements do not work:
https://www.healthcareconsumers.org/files/2025-09-09_Medicaid_Work_Requirements.pdf
And, the video from the community meeting for those who want to watch and hear the presentations:
https://youtu.be/S-dxsT1l-CA?si=2Dz22COLmGLuK7jY
Please stay tuned to CCHCC’s email list in order to see more updates and information about the impacts of the budget bill on the programs that affect people’s lives.
If you are not yet on CCHCC’s email list, you can sign up here:
https://www.healthcareconsumers.org/join-the-cchcc-email-or-mailing-list/
Also, Open Enrollment seasons for Medicare and ACA Marketplace are coming up, and CCHCC will be hosting two community meetings for Open Enrollment.
Please mark your calendars and save these dates:
Medicare Open Enrollment Meeting – Wednesday, October 15 at 10 a.m. at the Champaign Public Library. This meeting will be open to anyone who has Medicare or who will soon be eligible to start receiving Medicare. Participants will have an opportunity to ask questions and to schedule appointments with specialists to help them through the Open Enrollment process so they can choose an appropriate Medicare Advantage or Part D plan for themselves or their loved one.
Please note that Medicare Open Enrollment takes place from October 15 through December 7 for Medicare Advantage and Part D plans for 2026.
Marketplace Open Enrollment Meeting – Wednesday, October 29 at 7 p.m. at the Champaign Public Library. This meeting will be open to anyone who is seeking health insurance through the Marketplace or Medicaid. The State of Illinois will be operating its own Marketplace starting this fall, rather than continuing the partnership with the federal government for use of their Marketplace. We will explain the Open Enrollment process, options for financial assistance, and the difference between Marketplace and Medicaid plans.
Please note that Marketplace Open Enrollment takes place from November 1, 2025 through January 15, 2026. Individuals experiencing major life changes, like a marriage or divorce, change in employment, birth of a child, etc. might qualify for a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) and can enroll in a Marketplace plan outside of the Open Enrollment period. Medicaid enrollment is available year-round.
Both events listed above will be held at the Champaign Public Library at 200 W. Green Street, in Champaign.
Please help spread the word to publicize these events!
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Thank you for your support!
Sincerely,
Champaign County Health Care Consumers