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"One of Dr. King's most inspirational quotes is that 'Of all the
forms of inequality, injustice in healthcare is the most shocking
and inhumane.' Unfortunately, inequality in healthcare is still one
of the greatest injustices we face," said the Governor who addressed
the Seventeenth Annual PUSH-Excel Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Scholarship Breakfast. "Here in Illinois, we've made great strides
towards the goal of making healthcare for all a fundamental right.
We've made sure uninsured children have access to affordable health
insurance. We've extended affordable healthcare for hundreds of
thousands of working parents. We're helping our seniors save money
on prescription drugs. But we most do more. There are 1.4 million
adults in Illinois who do not have health insurance, nearly a
quarter of them African Americans, and those who do have insurance
are worried about the cost. But while Washington does nothing to
help people, we are not going to sit on our laurels. I want everyone
to have access to good, quality healthcare," the Governor added.
According to Milliman's 2006 Medical Cost Index Report in the
U.S., a family of 4 spends $5,020 in total health care costs --
including both premiums and co-pays/deductibles. With the rising
cost of healthcare across the nation and in Illinois, Governor
Blagojevich emphasized that Illinois can do more for working men and
women and their children by expanding access to health care so that
not just children get coverage, but every family member has access
to affordable, quality health care.
According to U.S. Census figures, 46 million Americans currently
do not have health insurance. In Illinois, 20 percent of adults --
1.4 million people -- are uninsured, and nearly a quarter of them
are African American.
Governor Blagojevich has made expanding access to affordable
healthcare his top priority since 2003. Just last week, The Kaiser
Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured, one of the nation's most
respected independent health policy research organizations, released
a report crediting Governor Blagojevich's administration for
sparking a national movement to provide healthcare to all children.
The Kaiser Commission also found that Illinois, for the third year
in a row, ranks #1 in the nation for providing healthcare to working
parents who need it.
Shortly after taking office in 2003, the Governor increased the
income threshold for children in KidCare from 185 percent of the
Federal Poverty Level to 200 percent, and in November 2005, the
Governor signed All Kids into law, making healthcare affordable for
the families of every uninsured child in the state. All Kids made
Illinois the first state in the nation to offer affordable,
comprehensive health coverage to every uninsured child. Under
Governor Blagojevich, the state has provided health coverage to more
than 313,000 children who didn't have it before.
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 Gov. Blagojevich also worked to further expand FamilyCare by
increasing the eligibility level for benefits on three occasions,
from 133 percent of the FPL (annual household income of $25,740 for
a family of four) to 185 percent of the FPL (an annual household
income of $35,796 for a family of four). Under Governor Blagojevich,
more than 500,000 Illinoisans now have healthcare that did not
before.
Additionally:
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Nearly a quarter
million low-income seniors and disabled individuals have been
helped by the State through our "Illinois Cares RX" program,
which also fills the "donut hole" in the Medicare Part D
program;
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Tens of thousands
of people have saved more than $10 million thanks to the
"Illinois Rx Buying Club," which helps seniors, the disabled and
the uninsured save an average of nearly 30% on hundreds of the
most popular prescription drugs;
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The recently
launched "Veterans Care" program is providing uninsured Illinois
veterans access to the comprehensive and affordable healthcare
coverage they have bravely earned.
Since the All Kids program was signed into law in November 2005,
the Governor's Office and the Illinois Department of Healthcare and
Family Services (HFS) have been aggressively reaching out and
traveling to communities across the state to make sure eligible
families know about the program and local healthcare providers,
social service agents and community leaders are armed with the
information they need to help families enroll. Families can apply
for the program by calling 1-866-ALL-KIDS to receive an application
form by mail or by visiting
www.allkids.com.
The Governor's All Kids program makes comprehensive health
insurance available to all uninsured children, and All Kids covers
immunizations, doctor visits, and many other healthcare services
such as hospital stays, prescription drugs, vision care, dental
care, as well as medical devices like eyeglasses and asthma
inhalers. Parents pay monthly premiums and co-payments for a variety
of services.
Studies have shown that children with health coverage are more
likely to get preventative care, stay healthy and succeed in school.
[News release from the governor's office]
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