Springfield, Illinois – State Rep. John Cabello joined fellow Republican Leaders Norine Hammond and Ryan Spain, and Assistant Republican Leader C.D. Davidsmeyer in a press conference last Thursday where they called for a moratorium on the expansion of Illinois’ billion-dollar health benefits program for undocumented immigrants.
In light of a recent report from the Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) detailing the massive cost and enrollment expansions of Illinois’ health benefits program for undocumented immigrants, Rep. Cabello is urging his colleagues in the General Assembly to exercise fiscal responsibility in both the short-term and long-term to ensure that the state budget remains sustainable.
“Undocumented immigrants are ineligible for any federal Medicaid match, resulting in State General Revenue Funds being used to pay for the entirety of services provided. As pointed out in our press conference, the dramatic growth in undocumented immigrant participation will require nearly a billion dollars in general revenue funds to support the program in Fiscal Year 2024. This is unsustainable and could lead to the loss of funding and services for Illinois’ most vulnerable citizens,” said Rep. Cabello.
The HFS report shows that the health benefits coverage for eligible undocumented immigrants is estimated to total 108,400 over original FY23 estimates, and enrollees totaling 31,500 over original FY23 estimates, a 202% and 94% increase respectively, in Fiscal Year 2024.
“It is unacceptable that the Illinois Democrats have repeatedly slipped these expansions into bills at the last minute, without committee hearings, public input, or debate. The lack of accountability and transparency in the process of this expansion of health benefits for undocumented immigrants is concerning,” added Rep. Cabello.
Rep. Cabello is supporting House Resolution 220, which calls for a pause on new enrollments in the program and an audit to fully understand the costs and enrollment numbers. He believes that we must prioritize funding for other important programs that could greatly benefit from the $990 million in General Revenue Funds that would go to HFS to continue to provide medical services to undocumented immigrants.
“We cannot afford to continue down this path of fiscal irresponsibility. We must take action to ensure that our state budget has a chance at being sustainable, and that our most vulnerable citizens are not left behind,” concluded Rep. Cabello.
For further information or to schedule interviews, please contact the office of State Rep. John Cabello at (815) 974-0090
John M. Cabello is State Representative for Illinois’ 90th House District which includes the following communities in Winnebago, Stephenson, and Boone counties: Rockford; Machesney Park; Freeport; Roscoe; Loves Park; Rockton; South Beloit; Caledonia; Durand; Rock City; and Rockton