Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Health coverage for Chicago area immigrants jeopardized in Gov. Pritzker’s budget proposal
Chicago Sun-Times ^ | March 23, 2025 | By Elvia Malagón and Mitchell Armentrout

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 ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: Illinois
KEYWORDS: aliens; border; chicago; democrats; healthcare; illegalaliens; illinois; ngos; prickster
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-31 next last

1 posted on 03/23/2025 6:47:24 AM PDT by Oldeconomybuyer
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Oldeconomybuyer

Immigrants? They mean wetbacks,don’t they?


2 posted on 03/23/2025 6:48:43 AM PDT by Gay State Conservative (Import The Third World,Become The Third World)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Oldeconomybuyer

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.


3 posted on 03/23/2025 6:49:54 AM PDT by FlingWingFlyer (Bureaucratic District "Judges" are the greatest threat to America and Americans.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Gay State Conservative

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.


4 posted on 03/23/2025 6:50:51 AM PDT by srmanuel
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Gay State Conservative

“””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)


5 posted on 03/23/2025 6:55:40 AM PDT by shelterguy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Oldeconomybuyer

“Illinoisans without legal status”

“…a beacon of progressive governance protecting some of Illinois’ most vulnerable residents”

Barf! What a Red Writer.


6 posted on 03/23/2025 7:01:03 AM PDT by ProtectOurFreedom (PDJT doesn’t just walk through the Valley of the Shadow of Death. He swaggers.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Oldeconomybuyer

I thought Boss Prickster warned the Feds not to come for “my people”.

That’s no way to treat his “people”.


7 posted on 03/23/2025 7:01:17 AM PDT by Biblebelter
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Biblebelter

It’s cute that he thinks they all work construction jobs.

Actually it’s even cuter that he thinks they all work.

EC


8 posted on 03/23/2025 7:04:01 AM PDT by Ex-Con777
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: Oldeconomybuyer

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.


9 posted on 03/23/2025 7:04:01 AM PDT by FreedomNotSafety
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Oldeconomybuyer
For example, an estimated 6,098 people were enrolled in the program as “undocumented” but had Social Security numbers.

Hmm. Fancy that.

Need to pass along these 6098 Social Security numbers to DOGE

10 posted on 03/23/2025 7:04:18 AM PDT by VeniVidiVici (Burma Shave)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Oldeconomybuyer

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


11 posted on 03/23/2025 7:08:24 AM PDT by A_Former_Democrat (What does the Deep State have on Dims and RINOs? Demand release of all tax returns)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: All

Not another Trump win?


Sniffle——Tolerant and compassionate Gov Pritzker was once held up by Democrats as a beacon of progressive governance protecting immigrants.....some of Illinois’ most vulnerable residents——sob.

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.


12 posted on 03/23/2025 7:09:05 AM PDT by Liz (This then is how we should pray...."Our Father, who art in heaven......")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: VeniVidiVici

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.


13 posted on 03/23/2025 7:09:37 AM PDT by Freee-dame ( )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: Oldeconomybuyer

Hey Pritzker.

Explain to us in plain language why you use our hard-earned money to pay for illegals’ health care.


14 posted on 03/23/2025 7:10:34 AM PDT by Bon of Babble (You Say You Want a Revolution?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Oldeconomybuyer

>>Nearly 33,000 Illinoisans without legal status

If they lack “legal status”, then they are NOT Illinoisans.


15 posted on 03/23/2025 7:12:54 AM PDT by vikingd00d (chown -R us ~you/base)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Oldeconomybuyer
Nearly 33,000 Illinoisans without legal status

They aren't Illinoisans.

16 posted on 03/23/2025 7:12:57 AM PDT by neverevergiveup
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: srmanuel

That’s right.


17 posted on 03/23/2025 7:17:16 AM PDT by No name given ( Anonymous is who you’ll know me as)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Oldeconomybuyer
I'm no legal scholar but I can easily imagine a scenario where a Chicago cop turns over a wetback to ICE,gets fired by the City of Chicago and succeeds in a multi million dollar Federal lawsuit for improper dismissal and other improper acts by the city. And if the cop in question was a member of a "protected" class he/she/it would get double.

Of course that cop would have no chance in any Illinois state court but the federal courts might be different.

18 posted on 03/23/2025 7:17:33 AM PDT by Gay State Conservative (Import The Third World,Become The Third World)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Oldeconomybuyer

Try going to Mexico and getting anything free.


19 posted on 03/23/2025 7:22:23 AM PDT by moreisee (The Media is the enemy.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Gay State Conservative

“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


20 posted on 03/23/2025 7:24:09 AM PDT by blitz128
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-31 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson