Illinois
Status of reform effort: Despite the General Assembly’s failure to approve comprehensive health reform in 2007, Governor Blagojevich is seeking to use his executive authority to expand health care coverage.
On March 7, 2007, Governor Rod Blagojevich (D) proposed “Illinois Covered” to provide affordable and quality health care coverage to all residents. The proposal builds on the Illinois All Kids program, which was the first program in the country to provide health care for all children.
The components of “Illinois Covered” include:
IllinoisCovered Choice:Statewide purchasing pool through which small businesses and individuals without access to employer-sponsored insurance can purchase insurance coverage.
IllinoisCovered Rebate: Premium subsidies for individuals with incomes between 100 and 400 percent of the federal poverty level, to help them purchase insurance.
IllinoisCovered Assist & Expansion of FamilyCare:A new program to cover adults under poverty and an expansion of health care coverage to families up to 400 percent of the federal poverty level.
The Governor proposed financing the plan through a new Illinois Covered Trust Fund, with a 3 percent employer assessment as its primary revenue source. The “Illinois Health Care For All Act” (SB5) incorporated provisions of the Governor’s proposal and was introduced in the legislature in January 2007. The legislation did not pass.
Because the General Assembly failed to approve “Illinois Covered” during the 2007 legislative session, the Governor has sought to use his executive authority to expand health care coverage in various ways. In October 2007, Illinois became the first state to provide free mammograms, breast exams, pelvic exams, and Pap tests to all uninsured women. In addition, the Governor implemented the FamilyCare expansion through administrative order. Despite legal efforts to stop the expansion, the Governor continued to implement the expansion which has enrolled 3,300 individuals since November 2007. On April 15, 2008, a judge issued a preliminary injunction that prohibits the Governor from continuing the FamilyCare expansion. It is unclear whether the 3,300 enrolled individuals will be able to continue to receive health benefits.*
* For more information about “Illinois Covered” see: http:/www.illinoiscovered.com/. S.B. 8, 95th General Assembly (Illinois 2007). For bill text see: http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/fulltext.asp?DocName=&SessionId=51&GA=95&DocTypeId=SB&
DocNum=0005&GAID=9&LegID=27215&SpecSess=&Session=.
Updated as of 6/02/08
