For immediate release: Thursday, may 15, 2025
Contact: Laurie R. Glenn 773.704.7246 Lrglenn@thinkincstrategy.com
CHICAGO — Illinois’ lifesaving, economy-driving Health Benefits for Immigrant Adults program, or HBIA, is set to end June 30, 2025, after recent inaction by a General Assembly committee. Cost-saving is the reason most often cited, but HBIA is a long-term investment that should be protected. The program covers health costs for low-income adults ages 42 to 64 whose immigration status makes them ineligible for Medicare. But it does so much more.
- HBIA saves money. Illinois has saved $65 million a year since starting the program in 2021 and the Health Benefits for Immigrant Seniors program in 2022, as noted in a recent study by the Embodying Race(ism) Project at the University of Chicago. Hospitals that care for uninsured undocumented immigrants have seen bad debt drop by an average of 15% and as much as 28%.
- Protecting HBIA would cost less than half a percent of the state’s total budget for healthcare. Budget estimates for FY26 show that continued coverage access for those currently enrolled in HBIA will cost approximately 0.07% of the state’s budget for healthcare.
- Ending HBIA affects the whole state, not just the people enrolled in the program. In 2021, immigrants in Illinois had $54.9 billion in spending power, paying $8.6 billion in state and local taxes and $13.1 billion in federal taxes. Immigrants work and pay taxes. Noncitizens are slightly more likely to be employed than citizens. Lack of access to health services will result in decreased economic productivity impacting local business and state revenue generation.
- Increasing the uninsured population in Illinois negatively impacts healthcare access for everyone. Health centers with HBIA-enrolled patients will suffer financially if those reimbursable patients become uninsured, possibly resulting in staff layoffs and clinic closures. Cook County Health is slated to lose an estimated $110 million. Health Centers will continue to serve patients to their fullest capacity, though the added pressure from absorbing more uninsured patients will impact all patients.
- The cost of HBIA will not surpass cost estimates for FY26. The HBIA and HBIS programs have been closed for new enrollment since 2023. In 2024, HFS transitioned 96% of HBIA enrollees into Managed Care Organizations (MCO). A consistent, capitated rate is paid to MCOs which allows the state to accurately budget for the program, without risk of overspending.
- HBIA has no viable alternative. Gov. J.B. Pritzker has said that the 33,000 people who would lose coverage under HBIA can find jobs that offer health insurance, but this is highly unlikely. Working adult immigrants often work in low-wage jobs that do not offer affordable employer-sponsored health insurance. Like Medicaid, HBIA serves low-income individuals, many of whom work in industries like agriculture and service that have historically low rates of employer-sponsored insurance. In 2023, fewer than half of workers in these sectors were even eligible for job-based coverage, and part-time workers—who make up a significant portion of low-wage labor—had even lower eligibility rates. Even when coverage is technically offered, it’s often unaffordable.
“HBIA is a lifeline for the 33,000 individuals who depend on the program for lifesaving care. Despite the continuation of the process ending the program, we are committed to working with our state legislators to protect access to coverage,” said Enddy Almonord, director of the Healthy Illinois Campaign. “The program saves money for the state in the long run and protects the lives of people who are vital to our state’s culture and economy.
“There is no other viable alternative, and there is no valid reason for Gov. Pritzker and Illinois to abandon their leadership position on this vital issue. In the face of the federal government’s threats to punish states for protecting their most vulnerable populations, Illinois must not capitulate but instead continue to defend healthcare for everyone, regardless of immigration status.”
ABOUT HEALTHY ILLINOIS
The Healthy Illinois Campaign is a nonpartisan, statewide coalition of immigrant rights advocates, healthcare providers, researchers, and policy leaders. The campaign supports quality, affordable healthcare access for all Illinois residents—regardless of immigration status. Learn more at healthyillinoiscampaign.org.