Debate over non-citizen health subsidies continues as budget deadline
looms
[May 05, 2025]
By Greg Bishop | The Center Square
(The Center Square) – With less than one month before the budget
deadline, the debate over subsidizing non-citizen health care continues,
especially as Gov. J.B. Pritzker winds down one program.
In his proposed budget released in February, Pritzker cuts the Health
Benefits for Immigrant Adults program, which had taxpayers subsidizing
the health care for non-citizens between the age of 42 and 64. The
Health Benefits for Immigrant Adults, putting taxpayers on the hook for
the health care for non-citizens over the age of 65, will still be
intact if lawmakers approve Pritzker's proposal.
Grace Pai is the executive director of Asians Advance in Chicago. During
a news conference in Springfield, she advocated for more spending on
non-citizens, not less.
“And at a time of intense xenophobia and attacks on federal funding
impacting immigrant communities, we think it is really important for the
state to step up and meet the need that is there in terms of providing
health care for immigrant adults,” Pai said.
The following day, state Rep. C.D. Davidsmeyer, R-Murrayville, said
taxpayers can’t afford it any more and advocated for ending both the
adult and senior non-citizen health care subsidies. He has House Bill
1456 to do just that.
“I strongly urge the General Assembly to take up this bill and to repeal
this program, this horrible abuse of our taxpayer dollars,” Davidsmeyer
said.
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Asians Advance Executive Director Grace Pai and Illinois state Rep.
C.D. Davidsmyer, R-Murrayville, at separate news conferences
BlueRoomStream
When asked how to pay for the HBIA program, Pai said the state needs
to change its income tax code from a flat tax to a graduated one.
“We need to be asking corporations and the super rich to pay their
fair share and that’s part of why the [Pan-Asian Voter Empowerment]
coalition has advocated for progressive revenue in this year’s
budget,” Pai said.
Davidsmeyer said Illinoisans are taxed out, and subsidies for
non-citizen health care need to end.
“And our citizens will certainly be appalled if they are forced to
pay more taxes again to pay for people who are here illegally,” he
said.
Earlier this year, an Auditor General report found the programs,
which had significant cost overruns and internal reporting errors,
cost taxpayers $1.6 billion.
Legislators have until May 31 to pass a budget with simple
majorities. They return Tuesday. The next fiscal year begins July 1.
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