Blagojevich Offers Plan to Aid Uninsured Children
October 12, 2005
Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich (D) proposed a plan to provide subsidized health insurance for 253,000 uninsured children in Illinois. The prospective name for the program is All Kids, captivating the idea that any child left uninsured can be eligible. Not only does All Kids appear to be the most far reaching program of its type, but it is the first statewide program that will ensure health insurance coverage for all children. The growing number of uninsured and underinsured children is a national concern that needs immediate attention.
Seventy percent of the state’s uninsured children belong to families that earn $40,000 to $80,000 a year. These families make too much to qualify for current state programs and not enough to cover the cost of private insurance. The current Illinois SCHIP program, KidCare, has an income cap of 185 percent of the federal poverty level, which is about $35,000. Unlike the current program, All Kids would not have an income cap. Any child who has been uninsured for 12 months would be eligible for All Kids.
According to the discussed policies of All Kids, a family of four earning $40,000 to $59,000 would pay $40 a month per child, $10 per doctor visit, $30 for emergency room visits, and 5% of the total cost for prescription drugs. There will be no deductible charges and out-of-pocket expenses would be limited to $500 per year. In addition, preventative health appointments, such as immunizations and regular check-ups, would not be of any cost. The plan would also provide dental, hearing, and vision coverage.
All Kids would be an umbrella program that would include KidCare. All Kids would determine billing according to a sliding fee scale based on the family’s income. Some beneficiaries currently in KidCare, FamilyCare (the program for parents), and traditional Medicaid would be moved to a managed-care system. This means that each patient would not have to visit a different doctor each time and would be placed with a “primary case manager”.
If All Kids is approved, it will take effect July 1, 2006 with the hopes of enrolling 50,000 children within its first year. In order for the program to be authorized for implementation, it must first pass both the Illinois House and Senate. House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) and Senate President Emil Jones (D-Chicago) both openly support this program. Further information on the bill can be found on the State of Illinois All Kids webpage.
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October 12, 2005
Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich (D) proposed a plan to provide subsidized health insurance for 253,000 uninsured children in Illinois. The prospective name for the program is All Kids, captivating the idea that any child left uninsured can be eligible. Not only does All Kids appear to be the most far reaching program of its type, but it is the first statewide program that will ensure health insurance coverage for all children. The growing number of uninsured and underinsured children is a national concern that needs immediate attention.Seventy percent of the state’s uninsured children belong to families that earn $40,000 to $80,000 a year. These families make too much to qualify for current state programs and not enough to cover the cost of private insurance. The current Illinois SCHIP program, KidCare, has an income cap of 185 percent of the federal poverty level, which is about $35,000. Unlike the current program, All Kids would not have an income cap. Any child who has been uninsured for 12 months would be eligible for All Kids.
According to the discussed policies of All Kids, a family of four earning $40,000 to $59,000 would pay $40 a month per child, $10 per doctor visit, $30 for emergency room visits, and 5% of the total cost for prescription drugs. There will be no deductible charges and out-of-pocket expenses would be limited to $500 per year. In addition, preventative health appointments, such as immunizations and regular check-ups, would not be of any cost. The plan would also provide dental, hearing, and vision coverage.
All Kids would be an umbrella program that would include KidCare. All Kids would determine billing according to a sliding fee scale based on the family’s income. Some beneficiaries currently in KidCare, FamilyCare (the program for parents), and traditional Medicaid would be moved to a managed-care system. This means that each patient would not have to visit a different doctor each time and would be placed with a “primary case manager”.
If All Kids is approved, it will take effect July 1, 2006 with the hopes of enrolling 50,000 children within its first year. In order for the program to be authorized for implementation, it must first pass both the Illinois House and Senate. House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) and Senate President Emil Jones (D-Chicago) both openly support this program. Further information on the bill can be found on the State of Illinois All Kids webpage.
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