Blagojevich administration kicks off statewide Veterans Care training tour

Event provides enrollment information on several state health care programs

Newly expanded insurance eligibility requirements for Veterans Care

(Text copied from file provided by the Illinois Office of Communication and Information)

[JAN. 17, 2007]  MACHESNEY PARK -- Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs (IDVA) Acting Director L. Tammy Duckworth and Veterans Care representatives kicked off the statewide Veterans Care Training Tour on Tuesday in Machesney Park where they informed community leaders, veterans' organizations, medical providers, and social service agencies about Veterans Care and other new or recently expanded healthcare programs offered by the state. Veterans Care is currently expanding its insurance eligibility requirements to further ensure the state's military heroes have access to affordable and comprehensive healthcare coverage. The Veterans Care Training Tour is holding nine events statewide January 16, 17 and 18.

"After serving our country so courageously, our veterans deserve nothing but the absolute best care that we are capable of giving them," said Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs Acting Director L. Tammy Duckworth. "This statewide training tour is a great resource for veterans, community leaders, medical providers, and social service agencies to learn about the state healthcare programs that are available. We want to make sure that all of our veterans are being taken care of, and the recent expansion of the eligibility requirements for the Governor's Veterans Care program will allow more of our veterans to have full coverage. I encourage all veterans, especially those who have been denied insurance coverage by the federal VA, to apply for this state program."

Jointly created by Gov. Blagojevich and Lt. Governor Pat Quinn, and launched in September, Veterans Care is designed to provide affordable, comprehensive health care to thousands of Illinois veterans who do not qualify for coverage through the federal Veterans Administration.

Training tour participants will receive information on Veterans Care and other new or recently expanded state programs to help all Illinois veterans and their families get access to affordable, quality healthcare. To be eligible for Veterans Care, a veteran must meet the following criteria:

• Be between the ages of 19 and 64.

• Be ineligible for VHA and other healthcare programs like FamilyCare.

• Have a household income based on the VHA threshold plus 25% of the Federal Poverty Level at the beginning of the program, and if funds permit after 6 months of operation based on the VHA threshold plus 50% of the federal poverty level.

• Not have been dishonorably discharged from service.

• Be willing to pay a monthly premium of $40, plus co-payments for doctor visits and prescriptions.

• Have been uninsured for the past six months. This requirement does NOT apply to veterans who have:

• post-active-duty coverage under TriCare.

• lost insurance coverage because of the loss of their employment or their spouse's employment.

• exhausted their coverage's lifetime benefit.

• purchased coverage under COBRA.

• been unable to access a spouse's health insurance plan.

• lost coverage under the state's medical programs -- FamilyCare, AABD, rebate, etc.

The statewide Veterans Care training tour will be at the locations listed below.

In addition to Veterans Care, the programs presented at the trainings include:

All Kids offers low cost or free comprehensive healthcare coverage for all uninsured children, regardless of family income.

FamilyCare provides access to affordable healthcare coverage for parents of children ages 18 and younger in Illinois.

Illinois Cares Rx offers Illinois' low-income seniors and persons with disabilities prescription drug assistance; and for those with Medicare Part D it offers them a means of avoiding high out-of-pocket expenses and gaps in coverage;

Illinois Rx Buying Club helps uninsured Illinoisans with incomes below a certain level save an average of 24 percent on hundreds of the most popular prescription drugs and I-Save Rx, which allows all Illinoisans to save up to 80 percent on hundreds of the most popular drugs imported from Canada and the United Kingdom.

I-SaveRx helps anyone save up to 80% on hundreds of the most popular drugs imported from Canada and the UK.

Illinois Breast and Cervical Cancer Program provides breast and cervical cancer screening and treatment for certain uninsured women.

Health Benefits for Workers with Disabilities allows working individuals with a disability to pay a low monthly premium and receive full medical benefits.

For more information on Veterans Care, visit the Veterans Care website at www.illinoisveteranscare.com or call 1-877-4VETSRX (1-877-483-8779).

[News release]

Veterans Care training tour locations

TUESDAY, JANUARY 16 10AM-12PM	WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 17 10AM-12PM	THURSDAY, JANUARY 18 10AM-12PM
IL Frisbee Senior Center 52 Northwest Highway Des Plaines, IL 60016	National Guard Armory 2900 W. Jefferson Street Joliet, IL 60435	Crestwood National Guard Armory 13838 S. Springfield Rd. Robbins, IL 60472
National Guard Armory 10451 North 2nd Street Machesney Park, IL 61115	Illinois Department of Agriculture Building Illinois State Fairgrounds Auditorium Springfield, IL 62794	Champaign Illinois National Guard Armory 600 East University Urbana, IL 61802
East Peoria VFW 123 Meadows Ave. East Peoria, IL 61611	American Legion #141 816 Main Street Mount Vernon, IL 62864	Anna Veterans Home 792 N. Main Street Anna, IL 62906