Posted on 03/23/2025 6:47:24 AM PDT by Oldeconomybuyer
Nearly 33,000 Illinoisans without legal status — including 22,000 in Cook County — could be left without health care if lawmakers approve Gov. JB Pritzker’s budget proposal to eliminate a costly program that has covered thousands of people since COVID-19 hit.
Once held up by Democrats statewide as a beacon of progressive governance protecting some of Illinois’ most vulnerable residents, the Health Benefits for Immigrant Adults program has been put on the chopping block by the governor due to ballooning costs in the face of a massive overall budget shortfall.
Now, advocates are pushing to salvage funding for a program that has served as a lifeline for thousands of lower-income people without other options.
“These are people who are doing hard labor, working outside, who are working in cleaning or in construction industries, who were told that they were essential workers during COVID. And these are the people to whom we’re saying, ‘You can’t have health care now,’” said state Sen. Karina Villa, D-West Chicago.
“It’s because their employers are not paying them enough and/or not providing health care benefits through their jobs. These are folks who really have sacrificed their bodies for our economy and it’s very disheartening to know that it’s on their back that we’re attempting to balance the budget.”
The program fell under increased scrutiny last month when Illinois Auditor General Frank Mautino issued a report finding the state vastly underestimated program costs.
The audit also found that the state underestimated the demand for the healthcare immigrant programs and found errors in enrollment. For example, an estimated 6,098 people were enrolled in the program as “undocumented” but had Social Security numbers.
Pritzker’s office estimates cutting the program for adults aged 42-64 will save $330 million as the state aims to bridge a multibillion budget shortfall.
(Excerpt) Read more at chicago.suntimes.com ...
Immigrants? They mean wetbacks,don’t they?
It sounds like the taxpayers are saying that the Prixster is screwing the illegals out of their entitlement of free healthcare. They rode a long way in Chevy pickups to get here.
Work with ICE, round up all the illegals and have them deported and the problem will be solved, pretty simple and doesn’t cost much money not to mention all the crime that won’t happen.
“””Immigrants? They mean wetbacks,don’t they?”””
In an old Charles Bronson movie he is a border patrol agent and he spends his days looking for “wets”.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borderline_(1980_film)
“Illinoisans without legal status”
“…a beacon of progressive governance protecting some of Illinois’ most vulnerable residents”
Barf! What a Red Writer.
I thought Boss Prickster warned the Feds not to come for “my people”.
That’s no way to treat his “people”.
It’s cute that he thinks they all work construction jobs.
Actually it’s even cuter that he thinks they all work.
EC
Their so called insurance is probably near worthless. An invitation to subpar care and long lines. But it does serve to transfer taxpayer money into the hands of hospitals and insurance companies. Oh, and Demonrat donors.
Hmm. Fancy that.
Need to pass along these 6098 Social Security numbers to DOGE
There were 10+ million illegal immigrants who crossed in the last four years mostly military age males and only 33,000 of them Wound up un Cook County.
Where Governor FatAss welcomes them in?
Not to mention the ones that were there previously
Not another Trump win?
Now he’s fallen off his blessed perch....his hallowed “Health Benefits for Immigrant Adults program” has been put on the chopping block due to ballooning costs in the face of a massive overall budget shortfall.
Frankly, I’m all broke up about it.
The use of the millions of Social Security numbers of dead people still in the system needs to be investigated. They were not collecting Social Security benefits, but they were using them for many other benefits and probably for voting. I believe that Musk and his DOGE computer geniuses together with AI can do this.
Hey Pritzker.
Explain to us in plain language why you use our hard-earned money to pay for illegals’ health care.
>>Nearly 33,000 Illinoisans without legal status
If they lack “legal status”, then they are NOT Illinoisans.
They aren't Illinoisans.
That’s right.
Of course that cop would have no chance in any Illinois state court but the federal courts might be different.
Try going to Mexico and getting anything free.
“Without status”?, they have a status and it’s called illegal aliens(criminals) and I am supposed to cry because they are losing free healthcare, healthcare that I have to pay for to the tune of a 1000 a month?
Sorry not sorry
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