Illinois Joins States Pushing for Health Insurance for All It's Citizens

Joining the ranks of States such as Massachusetts, New York and California, Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich says he wants to see that all residents of The Land of Lincoln  have access to affordable medical insurance within the next three years. Very similar to a plan that is now proving successful in Massachusetts, Blagojevich's initiative called "Illinois Covered" requires all citizens to obtain insurance, but the State will offer assistance based on a person's ability to pay.

Under the proposed plan even people making as much as 80,000.00 a year could qualify for help in purchasing heath insurance. During a recent speech delivered form a downtown Chicago church the Governor said "At the heart of our plan is one simple idea. And that is that everyone, everyone, should have access to affordable, quality health care." Ann Murphey, the governor's Director of Healthcare Programs, added, "The overall aim here is to provide affordable, good-quality health insurance to everyone in Illinois. While doing that, we want to improve the overall health system for everyone, to lower the health care costs for business and consumers..." If approved by State lawmakers the first phase of the program could be in place as early as January of 2008, with the program fully ramped up by January 2010.

The plan is not without it's Nay-Sayers. There are those that say the "Massachusetts Experiment" has yet to prove itself totally effective, and business owners are likely to object to any proposed legislation that has them bear the brunt of new programs. Also consumers in general may not like the idea if it diverts funds form other programs they think are equally or even more important then healthcare insurance like education. A spokesman for the Governor declined to say just how Blagojevich intends to pay for the program.  However she did say it would be revealed when the Governor gives his next State of the State address. Those in the know say that the funding for the affordable health insurance program will not come from an increase in sales taxes, or personal income taxes, but rather will be levied against businesses in what the Governor calls a "gross receipts tax". As in the Massachusetts plan funding will also come from additional taxes or penalties placed upon business that do not provide Health Insurance to their employees.

Area Hospitals and local healthcare reform advocates have embraced the plan. Danny Chun of the Illinois Hospital Association called the plan "an exciting opportunity". And Jim Duffett, executive director for the Campaign for Better Health Care was pleased with the concepts of the plan, especially in the way it helps Illinois Middle Class and working poor care gain access to affordable health coverage, and at the same time helps Small Business with healthcare costs, "This is going to be the largest economic stimulus plan that the state of Illinois has ever seen," Duffett said."