Illinois to end state-funded healthcare for thousands of migrants
by: John Clark | WTVO
Posted Mar 14, 2024 / 12:49 PM CDT
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WTVO) — Illinois has announced changes are coming to the state’s program to offer healthcare benefits to noncitizens after costs have soared to over $1 billion.
According to the Department of Healthcare and Family Services, as of April 1st, non-citizen green card holders and migrants who have been in the U.S. for less than 5 years will no longer be covered by the state’s health insurance programs.
“The Department is also committed to ensuring that individuals who are no longer eligible for benefits… receive helpful information about their options so they can connect to alternative coverage, particularly through the federal ACA Marketplace,” the statement read.
The HFS estimates at least 6,000 people will lose coverage by May 1st.
Illinois enacted laws in March 2022 that provide free health insurance, first for senior migrants, then for migrants aged 55-64, and ultimately for all migrants aged 52+.
The program is similar to Medicaid but is funded by the state, since migrants aren’t eligible for federal coverage.
Without federal match dollars for treating immigrants as part of the state’s Health Benefits or Immigrant Adults program, Illinois taxpayers were left to pick up the tab.
Covered services include doctor and hospital visits, lab tests, physical and occupational therapy, mental health, substance abuse disorder services, dental and vision services, and prescription drugs.
WBEZ reported that during a Joint Committee on Administrative Rules meeting this week, HFS chief of staff Dana Kelly told legislators the state would save over $13 million by eliminating ineligible recipients.
“We propose to remove these people from the program because they are actually eligible for subsidies on the health insurance marketplace,” Kelly said.
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