 "While the fiscal year 2008 budget lawmakers passed last week
includes a major boost in funding for education -- something we all,
as Democratic leaders, have advocated for -- the budget leaves some
important business unfinished," said Blagojevich. "I will do what I
can, through executive authority, to take care of some of the most
pressing needs that were left out of the budget. The first step will
be to expand eligibility for health care programs that are already
in place so that half a million Illinoisans will finally have access
to health care. And I will veto over $500 million in pork and other
nonessential spending so this budget better reflects the priorities
and needs of the people of Illinois."
Using his executive authority, Blagojevich will bolster state
health care programs and give 500,000 more Illinoisans access to
affordable health coverage and services, including:
-
Every uninsured
woman in Illinois will be eligible to get screened and treated
for breast and cervical cancer, greatly improving cancer
outcomes and saving lives.
-
Poor adults who are
not eligible for Medicaid will have the chance to see a doctor
regularly and get the prescription medications they need.
-
By changing
eligibility limits for the FamilyCare program, more working and
middle-class uninsured parents will receive access to health
coverage at affordable rates.
-
Working with the
Comprehensive Health Insurance Program, the state will make sure
children in the All Kids program who have pre-existing
conditions will continue to have access to affordable health
insurance up to age 21.
-
Families struggling
with the high cost of health insurance premiums will be able to
apply for yearly subsidies worth 20 percent of their annual
premiums, up to $1,000.
The governor called on Senate President Emil Jones Jr. and House
Speaker Michael J. Madigan to work with him in coming months to
ensure adequate revenue is in place to fulfill the state's
commitments to education, health care and other important needs.
"The governor has said he would not sign a budget that did not
include his priority of health care," said Jones. "The four leaders
knew the risk of negotiating an operating budget without the
governor in the room. I suggest today that I understand why the
governor is making this decision, and I commit to working with him
to fund health care within the operating budget that is on his desk.
We will not override the vetoes that enable the governor to fund
health care. Case closed."
The governor's veto will be filed later this week.
[to top of second column]
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Health care initiatives
Breast and cervical cancer screening and treatment
Screening and treatment for all uninsured Illinoisans
Expand the Illinois Breast and Cervical Cancer Program to provide
mammograms, breast exams, pelvic exams and Pap tests for all
uninsured Illinoisans. The program currently serves low-income
uninsured women. This expansion will provide access to screenings
for an additional 261,000 women. If diagnosed with breast or
cervical cancer upon screening, program participants will have
access to coverage for treatment.
FamilyCare expansion
Access to insurance for uninsured parents up to 400 percent of
the federal poverty level
Illinoisans who have children under the age of 19 and are under
400 percent of the federal poverty level ($82,600 for a family of
four) will have access to the FamilyCare program.
Illinois Covered Assist
Access to care for low-income uninsured adults
Provide access to a medical home with consistent primary care, a
prescription drug benefit, hospital services and disease management
to uninsured Illinoisans with low incomes -- under 100 percent of
the federal poverty level (currently a single person who makes less
than $10,210 annually or a couple making less than $13,690
annually).
Expansion of coverage for young Illinoisans
Coverage for sick or injured kids 19-21 who are too old for All
Kids
The governor will direct the director of the Department of
Insurance, who is the chairman of the board of directors for the
Comprehensive Health Insurance Program, to develop a bridge for
children with pre-existing conditions who become too old for All
Kids and have no access to insurance. Premiums to these young adults
will be subsidized to the age of 21.
Premium assistance for working families
Help for families struggling with the high cost of insurance
Provide annual premium subsidy up to 20 percent of the cost of
health insurance premiums for individuals or families at or below
300 percent of the federal poverty level ($61,950 for a family of
four). Premium subsidies are not to exceed $1,000 per year.
(The initiatives are described in chart form
below.)
[Text from files received from
the
Illinois Office of
Communication and Information]
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