Obamacare rollout begins here
Monday, Jul 22, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* From a press release…
Governor Pat Quinn today signed legislation that enacts a critical part of President Obama’s Affordable Care Act (ACA) by making Medicaid coverage available to all low-income adults in Illinois. Today’s action delivers on a major priority announced by Governor Quinn in his 2013 State of the State address and is part of his agenda to improve the health of the people of Illinois and increase access to quality health care. […]
Sponsored by State Senator Heather Steans (D-Chicago) and State Representative Sara Feigenholtz (D-Chicago), Senate Bill 26 will make Medicaid coverage available to adults with annual income below 138 percent of the federal poverty line, which is $15,860 for individuals and $21,408 for couples. The measure is expected to enroll 342,000 people by 2017. Currently, Medicaid is only available to children, their parents or guardians, adults with disabilities or seniors. Enrollment for the newly eligible population will begin Oct. 1 with coverage starting on Jan. 1.
Under the ACA, for the first three years, coverage of newly eligible adults will be 100 percent federally funded. The reimbursement rate will phase down to 90 percent by 2020. State officials estimate this will bring more than $12 billion in new federal funding to support the state’s health care system from 2014 to 2020. […]
Under Governor Quinn’s leadership, Illinois is also increasing access to health coverage through the Illinois Health Insurance Marketplace, another major feature of the ACA. The Marketplace, which also launches enrollment Oct. 1 with coverage starting Jan. 1, will be accessed through a user-friendly website where individuals, families and small businesses will be able to compare health care policies and premiums and purchase comprehensive health coverage. Those with income between 138 percent and 400 percent of the federal poverty level will receive subsidies on a sliding scale if they obtain coverage through the marketplace.
Discuss.
…Adding… From state Sen. Heather Steans…
Illinois’ share of the costs will total approximately $100 million per year in 2017-2019 and about $200 million in 2020 and each year thereafter.
- Formerly Known As... - Monday, Jul 22, 13 @ 11:29 am:
Having health insurance is a life-changing thing.
However, there are some serious flaws with this plan as evidencd by the recent postponement of certain aspects of implementation.
More locally, I cannot wait to trust Illinois bureaucrats with all of my personal information - financial records, health records, tax records, etc.
That first, inevitable data hack will be a doozy.
- Montrose - Monday, Jul 22, 13 @ 11:30 am:
On top of this, the state just announced $27 million in grants to organizations to support health insurance enrollment efforts starting October 1.
http://www2.illinois.gov/gov/healthcarereform/Documents/Health%20Benefits%20Exchange/FINAL%20IPC%20Grant%20list%20071713.pdf
- Robert the Bruce - Monday, Jul 22, 13 @ 11:32 am:
90%-100% federally funded, with money going to folks who will spend it here in Illinois. States that don’t serve more poor folks don’t get that boost in federal funds. This sounds to me like a great deal from our state’s economic perspective.
That’s a different question as to whether Obamacare is the right policy nationally. I know even the word “Obamacare” often sends people to the extreme wings of their political parties in rhetoric.
- Dan Johnson - Monday, Jul 22, 13 @ 11:32 am:
I can’t believe some state legislators and some red state governors rejected an expansion of Medicaid — at 100% federal funding. This is among the clearest examples of how the Affordable Care Act makes life better for people.
- Chicago Cynic - Monday, Jul 22, 13 @ 11:37 am:
Another IL screw-up. NY health insurance exchange has attracted great competition and seen prices 50% below current for individuals. IL has been super-late to the party and, as a result, has only attracted six companies. The results are not likely to be as good as either NY or CA.
- Election Lawyer Abe - Monday, Jul 22, 13 @ 11:53 am:
super late to the party, but better late than never. At least we will be able to run our own exchange in 2015, because we missed it for 2014.
The ACA will make life better for millions of people in our country.
- Formerly Known As... - Monday, Jul 22, 13 @ 11:59 am:
We missed the deadline to run our own exchange in Illinois?
The program isn’t even fully up and running yet and we’re already behind schedule?
I assumed we were on track for that aspect.
- Ghost - Monday, Jul 22, 13 @ 12:00 pm:
As a modern society we should be proud that we are making health care available to all.
As a market economy it helps to both support and protect the market to make sure those at the bottom of the ladder can be kept healthy and taken care of.
- Election Lawyer Abe - Monday, Jul 22, 13 @ 12:02 pm:
@formerly
Yeah the deadline was back in December to get one running in 2014. So we can do it in 15.
- oz - Monday, Jul 22, 13 @ 1:15 pm:
It’s an incentive for the gang shootings in Chicago. The violence has just been monetized.
Every time a gun shot wound victim is rolled into the ER Chicago politicians will hear a cash register ring.
Don’t mess with the free markets now. America has a $17 trillion dollar economy and violence is measured in GDP growth. Look at all that economic activity. ha.
- RonOglesby - Monday, Jul 22, 13 @ 1:31 pm:
Don J
—
I can’t believe some state legislators and some red state governors rejected an expansion of Medicaid — at 100% federal funding.
–
100% funding INITIALLY.. not forever. Often people think “Wow no payments for 6 months!!!!” then when the bill actually comes they are bummed and can’t believe it. That is what you are preaching here. 100% funding that gets reduced and states pick up the rest, for a program that already chews a big huge hole in state budgets. That is not a red state/blue state thing. ALL states should look and decide if they can afford the expansion as the law does cut that funding.
nothing is free in this world.
- Health Care Justice - Monday, Jul 22, 13 @ 1:55 pm:
Amen for Obamacare - another success
2014 IL will have a state-federal partnership marketplace (exchange). The IL General Assembly must pass legislation for a state-based marketplace. The Senate did (37-0-3), and Madigan blocked it from a vote in the House.
- Chavez-respecting Obamist - Monday, Jul 22, 13 @ 1:56 pm:
And it’s a Canadian company that’s going to have it ready (we hope) by October. CGI, from Montreal.
- RNUG - Monday, Jul 22, 13 @ 2:34 pm:
All this access and choice will be great for IL citizens who qualify for either the Medicaid expansion or subsidies on the exchanges.
Then there are the 65+ state retirees; the State has announced plans to force off of Medicare / State supported supplemental insurance and into a Medicare Advantage program next Jan. 1 with either very limited or zero choice. Not really sure how the State can do this since they signed one of the Obamacare “Cadillac group insurance penalty avoidance” agreements with the feds to keep the same benefits levels through 2017.
I guess if the GA cuts the State pensions enough, some of the retirees may end up poor enough for the expanded Medicaid program … so instead of the State paying for their health insurance, the Feds will be picking up 90%+ of the tab.
- BIG R. Ph. - Monday, Jul 22, 13 @ 2:49 pm:
But will the vendors be paid in a timely manner? Can the State come up with the money to pay the bills so that they can get the money back from the Feds?
Will they push current enrollees into the new plan to get 100% match?
Will they have a mechanism to audit the new enrollees to make sure that these folks are actually supposed to be on Obamacare?
- votecounter - Monday, Jul 22, 13 @ 5:55 pm:
watch as the Doctors leave their practice. What government program is ever what the promised it would cost? !00% paid by who? This is a huge tax on the young they don’t have the options we had to use their money for other things they will be forced to pay for the elderly peoples care. Taxing your children and grandchildren so you can have free health care. It’s like social security the early enrollees get a windfall the young get the shaft.
- Plutocrat03 - Monday, Jul 22, 13 @ 6:33 pm:
Quinn awards a $66.5 million contract to Montreal-based CGI for health care IT
Way to go. Not only can’t you get jobs for Illinois, but you have to sent the money out of the country……
- wordslinger - Monday, Jul 22, 13 @ 10:55 pm:
Ron, you’ve got the cathecism down today.
Even governors like Brewer, Kasich and Scott have been fighting for the expansion. Under law, 100% of funding, never below 90% or you can drop out.
And it a Red State/Blue State thing in that the Blue States subsidize much of the federal spending in the Red States, and always have.
- Anonner - Tuesday, Jul 23, 13 @ 7:29 am:
“And it a Red State/Blue State thing in that the Blue States subsidize much of the federal spending in the Red States, and always have. ”
And they should. Blue states are rich, get more services / protection from the federal government.
The rich have an obligation to assist the poor.
PLEASE NOTE: this is not saying the poor states are poor because of decisions they have made. The poor states are poor because of other externalities, including exploitation by the rich states.