Illinois Health Matters, May 7, 2008

Illinois Health Matters is a Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law newsletter that describes health care in Illinois through the stories of state residents. Our intent is to show the reality of health care in Illinois. Our hope is that this reality will help Illinois celebrate, use, and safeguard what is already good and drive Illinois toward constant improvement and health care for all.

We want your stories for Illinois Health Matters! We are extremely careful about your confidentiality and will always clear any of your information with you first before we use it. Please click here to share your story (or the story of someone you know) and we will follow up with you. You may also submit stories to Melissa Cubria, direct line: 312.368.1168

SUSANA-Giving uninsured young adults access to affordable, quality care

Susana was covered under her parents' insurance while she was a full-time student at the University of Illinois. When she was 22 years old, she graduated and was immediately dropped from her parents' group health policy. She found herself uninsured, unemployed, and unqualified for any of the federally funded medical assistance programs available to Illinois residents. Her only option was to apply for individual coverage through a private insurance company. Susana applied but was promptly denied because she had asthma, a "pre-existing" condition that makes it very hard for individuals to obtain insurance with private companies. However, Susana did not think much of it at the time. She paid for her necessary medication out-of-pocket while looking for a job. However, soon after, Susana was raped by two men who broke into her apartment while she was asleep. Hours after the men left, Susana panicked, called 911 and had an ambulance take her to the Emergency Room. The ER staff performed all the standard tests. Six weeks later they sent her the bills. Susana was still uninsured, unemployed and dealing with her recent trauma. She felt hopeless, ashamed, and afraid to tell anybody about what had happened. She ignored the bills despite the fact that they kept piling up and incurring late fees. Eventually, the bills were turned over to a debt collector. At that point Susana knew she had to do something and she went to her parents for help. They were devastated but very supportive. They paid off her medical bills which had nearly doubled since the actual date of her ER care. Susana is now 28 years old and just beginning to move on with her life. She currently has a good job with benefits but she will never forget the additional agony that the lack of health insurance caused her during the most difficult period of her life. Susana's story shows the need for affordable, comprehensive, quality health care for all, regardless of an individual's income or medical history. At a minimum, the Illinois General Assembly should pass SB 871, which would require employers to allow employees to keep their children as dependents on the employer-sponsored health plan, through age 25, at the employee's cost.

MARIA-Celebrate All Kids and make sure no other young adults lose critical care

Maria, now age 19, and her parents, have experienced the best and the worst about American health care and how it's paid for.  Maria was born with spina bifida, an often fatal condition.  She received fine treatment for it and its many complications-including a kidney transplant.  Over the years, she maxed out both of her parents' private insurance policies and moved onto All Kids when she was 14 years old. While insured under All Kids, Maria received all the necessary care and medications she needed while her family paid very modest premiums. Illinois needs to celebrate, safeguard All Kids, a program that provided a safety net for Maria's family and provides a safety net for thousands of families across the state who cannot access health care through private insurance companies but who still deserve affordable, quality comprehensive health care. Unfortunately, today, Maria is being pushed over the no coverage cliff.  Her All Kids coverage ended on her 19th birthday and she cannot obtain coverage as a dependent on her parents' coverage for many reasons-she is not a full time student, she has maxed out their polices, etc.  There needs to be a prevention mechanism in place such as All Kids Bridge program that prevents a lapse in care and ensures that premiums stay affordable for young people with chronic illnesses until their 21st birthday.

Illinois Health Matters
Issue 3
May 7, 2008