Chicago City Wire

Chicago, IL —On June 17, Congresswoman Delia C. Ramirez (IL-03) released the following statement in response to the abrupt announcement to close enrollment for immigrants currently eligible for health care coverage:

"The legacy of Illinois as an inclusive, welcoming place to call home is anchored by the legacy of the immigrant communities who feed Illinois, who build Illinois, who innovate in Illinois, who provide care for the people of Illinois, who pay taxes to Illinois. We have to protect something so fundamental to our humanity as providing health care coverage to people, regardless of documentation status. It's extremely disappointing to hear that the state administration has decided to stop immigrants from accessing life-saving health insurance under the pretense that it costs too much, especially since the alleged costs of the program are in question. I think of the many people across our state who are about to turn 42 who were counting on this program to finally access affordable health care. This is a policy choice. The idea that, in the richest nation in the world, we have to choose between who is worthy of affordable access to health care and who is not is a false choice built on fearmongering and anti-immigrant rhetoric. This decision won't only put thousands of hard-working, taxpaying immigrants' lives in danger, but it will also cost the state money in the long run. The pandemic made tragically clear across the globe the consequence of underinvesting in comprehensive, inclusive public health priorities. The restrictive announcement will also result in higher costs for those already enrolled in the program and place additional financial strains on our safety net hospitals. 

"When I led the first expansion of health care coverage in the Illinois House as a State Representative - a program we can build upon and expand by passing Medicare for All in Congress, I did it because I knew very personally how much preventive care and the ability for immigrants to care for themselves and their families meant. Immigrants like my own family came to this nation looking for a better life, and we can't now neglect our promise as a state and as a nation. We must do everything in our power to live up to our values without questioning the dignity and worthiness of their lives, without imposing hurtful limitations on our communities or leaving anyone behind." 

BACKGROUND:

In June 2020, as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Illinois General Assembly passed a history-making provision led by then Illinois State Representative and Assistant Majority Leader Delia Ramirez with the Illinois Latino Caucus to give Medicaid access to noncitizens over 65 years old and whose income is $12,670 or less, which is at or under the federal poverty level. The provision was included in the Illinois 2021 Budget bill, which Gov. Pritzker signed into law, creating the Health Benefits for Immigrant Seniors program. In May of 2021, through the FY22 budget, the General Assembly expanded access to coverage to undocumented immigrant adults 55-64 years of age, creating the Health Benefits for Immigrant Adults program. Last year, the Illinois General Assembly passed an FY23 budget that expanded eligibility to the Health Benefits for Immigrant Adults program for qualifying immigrants 42 and older, regardless of immigration status.

Original source can be found here.