An Illinois task force created by the state legislature has proposed sweeping healthcare reform that will provide universal coverage to all the state’s residents, including undocumented workers and college students, reports the Chicago Tribune. Insurance coverage would be mandated, with individuals paying a penalty if they choose to do without, and employers paying a fee if they fail to offer it. All insurers selling coverage in the state would have to offer policies to individuals and small groups. In addition, the state would subsidize premiums for low-income residents and provide financial incentives to small employers to defray the cost of purchasing healthcare insurance. Medicaid would also be expanded. Insuring approximately 1.7 million uninsured people is estimated to cost the state $3.6 billion a year and employers, $1.5 billion a year.
Opposition has been voiced by some lawmakers who say the only way to fund universal coverage is by raising taxes, and by the insurance industry, which claims that mandated insurance stifles the competition required to keep rates low and that employers will leave the state because of the added costs of doing business in Illinois. In 2004, Illinois passed legislation stating that the state has a “policy goal” of providing all its residents with affordable coverage, and the governor’s office and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois are also developing their own healthcare reform proposals.
