Many hard-hit communities are still recovering from the global pandemic, though some Illinoisians have added stressors like lack of health care resources. Last year, the Illinois legislature expanded the Health Benefits for Immigrant Adults (HBIA) program so low-income adults 42 and older are eligible to receive health care coverage, regardless of immigration status; expanding access to quality health care. This is a significant victory, but there is more to be done. People with low income between 19 and 41 may not quality for Medicaid because of their immigration status; therefore, they can’t get the health care they need and deserve. Healthy Illinois is working to close that gap by advocating for the expansion of the Health Benefits for Immigrant Adults to cover adults from ages 19-41.
The expansions that have occurred in the past have already been proven successful. Illinois adults who are 42+ have been able to access physical and mental health care because of the HBIA program. If adults ages 19-41 become eligible, then 116,300 potential Illinois enrollees could be covered. This means thousands more people could access services already covered by HBIA and the proposed expansion, which includes doctor and hospital care, mental health services, dental and vision services, prescription drugs, and other medical services.
EverThrive Illinois supports Healthy Illinois’ health care expansion because it’s important for individuals to have health and reproductive health care coverage at all stages of life. People need and deserve to be healthy before, during, and after pregnancy, and access to quality reproductive care can impact Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Rates in Illinois. By allowing this gap in coverage to continue, we are disrupting access to care for people at a time when it can have the greatest impact on families and those who may become pregnant.
EverThrive Illinois will continue to work with our champions for health equity across Illinois to support communities most impacted by health injustice. We will also continue working with our community partners to ensure that individuals and families have access to resources and the health care necessary to sustain healthy families on their terms.
For more information on this effort and a more detailed look at the state legislation that would make this possible, go to Healthy Illinois’ website and view their 2023 Campaign Demands.