Fact Check: "Illinois will also shut down its program for roughly 30,000 non-U. S. citizens in July."
What We Know
The claim that Illinois will shut down its program for non-U.S. citizens is accurate. Specifically, the Health Benefits for Immigrant Adults (HBIA) program, which provides health coverage for eligible individuals aged 42 to 64, is set to end on July 1, 2025. The last day of medical coverage through this program will be June 30, 2025 (source-1). This decision is attributed to budgetary constraints faced by the state, which has prioritized funding for the Health Benefits for Immigrant Seniors (HBIS) program, serving individuals aged 65 and over (source-2).
The HBIA program currently serves approximately 30,000 non-U.S. citizens, and its termination will significantly impact these individuals, who would otherwise be eligible for Medicaid if not for their immigration status (source-3).
Analysis
The evidence supporting the claim is robust and comes from multiple credible sources. The official announcements from the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) clearly outline the termination of the HBIA program due to budgetary issues (source-1; source-2). Furthermore, news reports corroborate this information, detailing the implications of the program's closure and the number of individuals affected (source-3; source-5).
The reliability of these sources is high, as they include official state communications and reputable news outlets that report on state policy changes. The potential bias in these reports is minimal, as they primarily present factual information regarding state decisions and their implications for immigrant health coverage.
Conclusion
The verdict on the claim that "Illinois will also shut down its program for roughly 30,000 non-U.S. citizens in July" is True. The termination of the Health Benefits for Immigrant Adults program is confirmed by official state announcements and supported by multiple credible news reports. This decision reflects the state's budgetary constraints and prioritization of resources for other programs.
Sources
- Health Benefits For Immigrant Adults | HFS
- Health Benefits For Immigrant Seniors | HFS
- State on track to end health coverage program for ...
- Government benefits for immigrants
- Lawmakers fight to save program giving health benefits ...
- Illinoisans Rally To Preserve Healthcare For Immigrants
- Trump administration gives personal data of immigrant ...
- Healthy Illinois 2023 Campaign Demands