Illinois could become first state to provide Medicaid to noncitizens (original) (raw)

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WICS/WRSP) — Illinois could be the first state to expand Medicaid benefits to non-U.S. citizens.

Rep. Delia Ramirez, D-Chicago, has been pushing to expand Medicaid to non-citizens since last year. She said the COVID-19 pandemic shed a light on how important healthcare is.

"When this pandemic hit, I knew that those who had no access to healthcare before would be literally on the verge of death through COVID-19," Ramirez said.

In the proposed 2021 state budget, non-citizens over the age of 65 with income under the poverty line would receive Medicaid benefits.

"I am a believer that healthcare is a human right," Ramirez said. "No one should be denied of that. It's life or death in many cases."

While this would only affect around 1,000 people in the state, Ramirez said it sets a precedent for other states.

"We are the first in the nation and this will open doors to every single state to say if Illinois can make this happen,” Ramirez said.

However, Rep. C.D. Davidsmeyer, R-Jacksonville, doesn't think this is a good precedent for the state to be setting.

"The state of Illinois tends to be first in the worst things and last in the best things," Davidsmeyer said. "We need to focus on getting the state back on track and helping the citizens of the state of Illinois."

Illinois' budget relies on borrowing $5 billion from the federal government. Davidsmeyer doesn't think the state should be expanding programs right now.

"It's interesting for us to provide benefits to non-citizens when we can barely afford to take care of what we've already promised,” Davidsmeyer said.

Davidsmeyer feels this is too big of a change in policy to just tack onto the budget.

"It's more of a policy expansion," Davidsmeyer said. "It's not just a small deal. You're talking about picking up a whole new population."

Ramirez said this provision was tacked onto the state budget because of the short time lawmakers had for legislative session this year.

The budget allocates $2 million for this provision.

If Gov. JB Pritzker signs the state budget, this will take effect July 1.