SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) – Non citizens enrolled in health care programs will have to start paying copays.
Governor J.B. Pritzker announced the rule change, which took effect Thursday, back in June as a way to address the high cost of the program after it was expected to come in well over the budget.
The Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) had previously delayed implementing them.
“The delay perhaps bought a little bit of time, but really, it’s not enough to fully prepare an entire community about the changes that are going to happen to their health care plan,” Edith Avila Olea, the policy manager for the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR), said.
The copays apply to certain areas. For non-emergency inpatient hospitalizations, people will pay a $250 copay per stay.
For non-emergency hospital outpatient services or surgical treatment centers, those enrolled in the program pay 10% of what HFS would pay a provider. Still, the amount could vary based on what services a patient receives or who they’re seeing.