342,000 Need Your Help to Expand Medicaid in Illinois

Citizens for Action, Illinois has issued an urgent alert in regards to expanding Medicaid in Illinois. The Illinois Senate will be hearing the Medicaid Expansion bil (SB26) today. Pending the Health Committee's passing of the bill, it may move to the full Senate as early as Wednesday.

As millions of Americans are without healthcare, and hundreds of thousands of Illinois residents battle the rising costs of healthcare, job losses and cutbacks by major corporations and small businesses; Illinois waits for a decision in the expansion of healthcare.

Urgent Action Email/ Press Release:

"CALL YOUR STATE SENATOR
SB26: Medicaid Expansion Bill Moves in Illinois Senate

Today is the Day! The Medicaid Expansion bill (SB26) will be heard in the Senate Public Health Committee today (Feb. 5th) at 3pm. If the bill passes out of committee, it could move to the full Senate as early as Wednesday.

Please call your senator Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

Call the easy to use ‘Illinois Affordable Health Care Hotline': 1-888-616-3322

Tell your state senator to support SB26, the Medicaid expansion bill. SB26 will bring an additional $4.6 billion of federal dollars into Illinois and give 342,000 hard working Illinoisans access to care.

SB26 is a bill to leverage federal financing of the state’s Medicaid program in 2014 to cover the uninsured, made eligible by the Affordable Care Act (ACA).
• SB26 authorizes Illinois to take advantage of the ACA to provide Medicaid to 342,000 low-income Illinois citizens who are currently uninsured.
• SB26 is expected to bring $4.6 billion additional federal dollars into Illinois in the first three years.
• SB26 covers the uninsured with no cost to state for first three years, with the state picking up 10% of cost by 2020. State contribution will never go above 10%.

FACT Sheet:
http://www.heartlandalliance.org/policy-and-advocacy/policy-issues/medicaid-expansion_factsheet_01152013.pdf

Call the easy to use ‘Illinois Affordable Health Care Hotline': 1-888-616-3322

Co-Sponsors and Bill Language:

ilga.gov/legislation/billstatus.asp

For more information. contact John Gaudette at Citizen Action/IL: john@citizenaction-il.org

Thank you for your support,

Lynda DeLaforgue and William McNary

Co-directors, Citizen Action/Illinois"