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Victory! IL Will Cover Low-Income Uninsured Seniors Regardless of Immigration Status

May 26, 2020

Dear friends,

*Este mensaje se repetirá en español a continuación*

Thanks to your advocacy efforts last week, we have an Illinois victory to celebrate!

Illinois will be the first state in the nation to offer comprehensive health insurance coverage to low-income undocumented seniors!

This is an important first step toward achieving universal health coverage in the State of Illinois for all Illinois residents, including all immigrants. Not only will this help the particular individuals who will gain coverage, but it will also help ensure greater public health protections for all communities, as more people gain coverage and can seek timely healthcare without fear of unaffordable medical debt.

Thank you again for your advocacy last week for support of HB 4891 / SB 3703 – Healthy Illinois for All – which has made this coverage possible!

Here are the details, from our colleagues at Healthy Illinois:

We are happy to announce that our HB4891/SB3733, Healthy Illinois for All, was included in the FY 2021 state budget implementation act that was approved late Saturday night (page 435)! The allocation, which includes language from HB 4891 (Ramirez) /SB 3703 (Aquino), Healthy Illinois For All, will create a pathway to health coverage for all low-income Illinois residents aged 65 and older, with household incomes of up to 100% FPL ($12,760 for an individual) regardless of their immigration status. In doing so, Illinois took a monumental and critical first step towards expanding health care coverage to all undocumented uninsured Illinoisans– starting with our seniors first. This approach will continue Illinois’ leadership by being the first state in the nation to provide Medicaid-like coverage to undocumented seniors, pending Governor Pritzker’s signature sometime in the near future.

The Healthy Illinois Campaign wants to especially thank Rep. Delia Ramirez, Rep. Lisa Hernandez, Sen. Omar Aquino and the entire Illinois Latino Legislative Caucus for responding swiftly and responsibly to blunt the continued spread of COVID-19 as well as for helping prepare our state for the devastating economic aftermath, including to health care providers. As we work towards the Governor’s vision of expanding access to affordable, comprehensive health coverage in Illinois, we know that the urgency is critical for uninsured, low-income undocumented seniors to be prioritized and, have the opportunity to age with dignity and respect. We appreciate your continued leadership in prioritizing Healthy Illinois for All in the state budget.

En español:
Estimados Amigos de CCHCC:¡Nos complace anunciar que nuestro HB4891 / SB3733, Healthy Illinois for All, se incluyó en la ley de implementación del presupuesto estatal para el año fiscal 2021 que se aprobó el sábado por la noche (página 435)! La asignación, que incluye el lenguaje de HB 4891 (Ramírez) / SB 3703 (Aquino), Healthy Illinois For All, creará un camino hacia la cobertura de salud para todos los residentes de Illinois de bajos ingresos de 65 años o más, con ingresos familiares de hasta 100 % FPL ($ 12,760 para un individuo) independientemente de su estado migratorio. Al hacerlo, Illinois dio un primer paso monumental y crítico para expandir la cobertura de atención médica a todos los residentes de Illinois indocumentados sin seguro, comenzando primero con nuestros adultos mayores. Este enfoque continuará el liderazgo de Illinois al ser el primer estado en la nación en proporcionar cobertura similar a Medicaid a personas mayores indocumentadas, a la espera de la firma del gobernador Pritzker en algún momento cercano.

La Campaña Healthy Illinois quiere agradecer especialmente a la Representante Delia Ramírez, la Representante Lisa Hernández, y al Senador Omar Aquino y todo el Caucus Legislativo Latino de Illinois por responder de manera rápida y responsable para mitigar la propagación continua de COVID-19, así como por ayudar a preparar nuestro estado para las consecuencias económicas devastadoras, incluso a los proveedores de atención médica. A medida que trabajamos hacia la visión del Gobernador de ampliar el acceso a una cobertura de salud integral y asequible en Illinois, sabemos que la urgencia es crítica para que las personas mayores indocumentadas de bajos ingresos y sin seguro tengan prioridad y tengan la oportunidad de envejecer con dignidad y respeto. Agradecemos su continuo liderazgo al priorizar Healthy Illinois for All en el presupuesto estatal.

En profunda gratitud,
CCHCC

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Thank you for your advocacy and support!

Sincerely,

Champaign County Health Care Consumers