kaisernetwork.org

kaisernetwork.org: "Tuesday, March 06, 2007

State Watch

Illinois Governor Proposes Health Coverage Expansion

Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D) on Sunday unveiled a plan to expand access to health insurance to the 1.4 million uninsured state residents at an estimated cost of $2.1 billion per year, the Chicago Tribune reports (Graham, Chicago Tribune, 3/4). Blagojevich's plan, called Illinois Covered, is based in part on recommendations by a legislative task force that all residents, including undocumented immigrants and non-resident students, be required to obtain health care coverage (Ritter, Chicago Sun-Times, 3/5). Under the plan, every insurer in the state would be required to offer a standardized, comprehensive insurance policy to uninsured residents regardless of pre-existing medical conditions
(Chicago Tribune, 3/4). The plan would have three main components:"