The Chicago City Council Latino Caucus Outraged at Governor Pritzker's Decision to Pull Noncitizen Healthcare In Illinois
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 16, 2023
CHICAGO – The Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) gave notice today that enrollment will be paused for healthcare coverage of Illinois immigrants ages 42-64 under the Health Benefits for Immigrant Adults (HBIA) program. The Chicago City Council Latino Caucus stands with our colleagues at the Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus and believe it is inhumane to deny healthcare for noncitizens of Illinois because healthcare is a basic human right.
“This decision will inevitably be at a greater cost to Illinois taxpayers,” said Chair of the Chicago Latino Caucus Rossana Rodriguez Sanchez (33), “This is because noncitizens will more than likely end up in the emergency room since they were denied preventative care.”
As of July 1, noncitizen adults will no longer be able to apply for new health care coverage. Therefore, any noncitizen aged 42 to 64 who has not signed up must do so before July 1.
The Chicago City Council Latino Caucus was created to fight for the well-being and betterment of all Latino residents of Chicago. The Caucus urges the General Assembly, Governor Pritzker, and HFS to reverse this decision and expand access to healthcare coverage for noncitizens over the age of 19 in Illinois.
The City Council Latino Caucus includes 15 members from across the city. They represent wards as diverse as Chicago itself. In addition to Chair Rossana Rodriguez-Sanchez (33), the Caucus membership includes: Ald. Daniel LaSpata (1), Ald. Peter Chico (10), Ald. Julia Ramirez (12), Ald. Jeylú Gutiérrez (14), Ald. Michael D. Rodriguez (22), Ald. Silvana Tabares (23), Ald. Bryon Sigcho-Lopez (25), Ald. Jessie Fuentes (26), Ald. Ruth Cruz (30), Ald. Felix Cardona (31), Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (35), Ald. Gilbert Villegas (36), and Ald. Andres Vasquez (40). Chicago’s Clerk Anna Valencia is an ex-officio member of the Latino Caucus and Latino Caucus Foundation.
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