New CDC report underscores urgency for affordable health insurance in Illinois and across the country

[June 30, 2007]  SPRINGFIELD -- Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich has pointed to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's new study that shows 43.6 million Americans were uninsured in 2006, 6 percent more than the year before, as a loud wake-up call to those who believe that health care is not a problem for our country or our state. In Illinois, the uninsured rate rose to 13 percent, an increase of 3 percent since 2005.

"Lawmakers can't continue to pretend that health care is not a problem for their constituents," Blagojevich said. "The statistics show that families throughout Illinois are struggling more now than they were just a year ago to afford the health care they need. They work hard and do everything they can to get ahead -- but without access to affordable health insurance, one major accident or illness could take away everything they have worked for. Through All Kids, we have made progress by providing every child in Illinois with access to quality, affordable health care, but we can't stop there. We can't let parents and other adults in Illinois go without the health care they so desperately need."

The cost of health care is rising dramatically nationwide, leaving more and more people uninsured and forcing businesses to drop or significantly cut back coverage. A majority of the uninsured listed in the study were non-elderly adults. The findings underscore the need for a statewide plan to help adults find access to affordable health insurance.

The governor's Illinois Covered plan would provide affordable coverage to the uninsured and would also help many middle-income families and small businesses that are currently enrolled in health insurance plans save thousands a year on health care costs. The plan would also reform the existing health care system to improve quality, reduce costs and require more accountability.

Health advocates and provider organizations from around the state have endorsed the governor's Illinois Covered plan, including the Illinois Hospital Association, the Illinois Pharmacists Association, the Illinois Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, AARP Illinois, the Illinois Coalition for School Health Centers, the Illinois Nurses Association, the Illinois Primary Healthcare Association, the Illinois Public Health Association, the Illinois Society for Advance Practice Nurses, the Metropolitan Chicago Healthcare Council and the National Black Nurses Association.

For the full 2006 National Health Interview Survey, go to http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/
nhis/earlyrelease/insur200706.pdf. [To download Adobe Acrobat Reader for the PDF file, click here.]

[Text from file received from the Illinois Office of Communication and Information]