Illinois Task force urges state health exchange for undocumented immigrants

Crain's Chicago Business reports:

A state task force wants Illinois to create a health insurance exchange for undocumented residents and expand the Medicaid program to cover legal immigrants who aren't eligible to receive federally funded benefits.

Those were among dozens of recommendations in a report released yesterday by the Alliance for Health, a group of more than 500 health experts and community advocates organized last year by Gov. Pat Quinn's Office of Health Innovation and Transformation.

Health care in Illinois is in a state of flux as providers adjust to changes spurred by the Affordable Care Act. The report recommends ways for the health system to transform smartly and efficiently in Illinois as well as ways to implement funding for Medicaid reform.


The state-run marketplace would provide individuals and small businesses with a place to compare private health insurance options. Undocumented immigrants are not eligible to participate in the federal marketplace, but the state exchange would be open to them since federal money would not be used, said Michael Gelder, Quinn's senior health policy adviser.

The great moments of socialized medicine! It appears some people do view a "difference" between a federal and state exchange. No word yet on this story from defenders of the IRS handing out tax credits to pretty much anyone.