When Illinois lawmakers brag about having a “welcoming state,” they might want to talk to parents like Susie Redfern. In 2019, the Chicago Tribune profiled her and her son Nick as symptomatic of a dysfunctional system failing to meet the needs of individuals with disabilities.
But rather than fixing that crisis, the Illinois Legislature created a new one, establishing health care programs for illegal immigrants that have exploded in costs, even as some of the state’s most vulnerable citizens lack access to needed care. It’s a particularly cruel example of the misplaced priorities of the radical left.
Surging Enrollment, Exploding Costs
In 2021, Illinois created its first health care program for alien residents over age 65; subsequent expansions have made individuals above age 42 eligible for benefits. The expanded eligibility brought with it an influx of enrollees — as of this spring, the number of beneficiaries was growing 10 percent per month.
As one might expect, exploding enrollment brought exploding costs. Spending estimates grew fivefold in the span of three months, from $220 million in Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s February budget to $1.1 billion in May. Following the higher estimates, the Democratic-run legislature passed legislation allowing changes to the programs, which Pritzker used to cap enrollment and impose cost-sharing on participants.
The spiraling enrollment and expenses would not surprise those who recognize how generous welfare benefits can serve as a migration magnet. Testifying before Congress in 1993, Hillary Clinton said that benefits under proposed health care legislation should not apply to
