Gov. Blagojevich's plan to provide comprehensive health coverage for every child in Illinois earns key endorsements

CHICAGO - More than 200 organizations signed letters that were presented to Governor Rod R. Blagojevich today in support of his landmark All Kids proposal that would make Illinois the only state in the nation to provide affordable, comprehensive health insurance for every child in the state.  Last week, the Governor announced his plan to ensure that every child in Illinois has access to affordable health insurance.  The groups joining the Governor today represent hospitals, doctors, nurses, educators, labor, child advocates and clergy. 

 

In Illinois, 253,000 children are without health insurance.  More than half of Illinois' uninsured children come from working and middle class families who earn too much to qualify for programs like KidCare, but not enough to afford private health insurance.  The Governor's program would make comprehensive health insurance available to children, with parents paying monthly premiums and co-payments for doctor's visits and prescription drugs at affordable rates. 

 

"There is nothing more important to parents than making sure their kids are safe and healthy.  Yet hundreds of thousands of children in Illinois don't have health insurance. But, we can change this if we pass our All Kids plan.  I would like to thank everyone here supporting us today. Together, we can make sure children have access to comprehensive and affordable health care through our All Kids program," said Gov. Blagojevich.

 

Senate President Emil Jones and House Speaker Michael J. Madigan are the lead sponsors of legislation creating the All Kids health insurance program and have vowed to push for its passage during the upcoming fall veto session so the program can be up and running by July 1, 2006. The organizations vowed to help the Governor build support to pass his All Kids plan and to help enroll children in the plan, should it pass.

 

"Governor Blagojevich is taking a bold step forward by making Illinois the first state in the nation to propose comprehensive health care coverage to every child," the letter from the organizations reads.  "We agree with Senate President Emil Jones, House Speaker Michael Madigan and Governor Blagojevich that parents shouldn't have to face a difficult economic decision when their child is hurt or sick, every child should have access to affordable health insurance and be able to see a doctor when they are sick or injured.  As others have said, and we agree, health care should be a right for all children, not just a benefit for the privileged few." 

 

Over the past two and a half years, the Blagojevich Administration has worked to expand health coverage for low-income, working parents and their children.  Since January of 2003, 170,000 more children in Illinois received health insurance, and Illinois is now ranked as the second best state in the nation by the Kaiser Family Foundation for providing health care to children who need it (Illinois is also now the top ranked state in the nation for providing health care to adults who need it).

 

Despite these gains, there are still uninsured children in every corner of the state.  Based on adjusted 2003 Census data, approximately 253,000 children in Illinois do not have health insurance. Twelve percent of children in Cook County, the state's most populated county, are uninsured.  In Pulaski County at the southern tip of Illinois, nearly 15% of children lack health coverage.  In St. Clair County, 9.3% of children do not have health insurance.  In Sangamon County, home to Illinois' capitol, 8.6% of kids are not insured.  Even in suburban DuPage County, one of the twenty-five wealthiest counties in the United States, 7.2% of children have no health insurance.  

 

The Governor's All Kids program would offer children access to comprehensive health care, including doctor's visits, hospital stays, prescription drugs, vision care, dental care and medical devices like eye glasses and asthma inhalers.

 

Research shows that uninsured children suffer because they do not have access to adequate medical care.  For example:

 

·                    The Kaiser Family Foundation found that uninsured children are 70% less likely than children with insurance to receive medical care for conditions like ear infections, and 30% less likely to receive medical attention when they are injured. 

 

·                    A National Health Interview Survey found that 59% of uninsured children did not see a doctor for a check-up in the past year and 38% of children have no regular place to go for medical care.  These factors put uninsured children at higher risk for hospitalization or missed diagnoses of serious conditions.

 

Participants in the new program will pay monthly premiums and co-payments for doctors visits and prescriptions, but unlike private insurance that is too expensive for so many families, the rates for All Kids coverage will be based on a family's income.  The state is able to offer All Kids insurance coverage at much lower than market rates for middle-income families by leveraging the significant negotiating and buying power it already has through Medicaid. 

 

For example, a family with two children that earns between $40,000 and $59,999 a year will pay a $40 monthly premium per child, and a $10 co-pay per physician visit. A family with two children earning between $60,000 and $79,999 will pay a $70 monthly premium per child, and a $15 co-pay per physician visit.  However, there will be no co-pays for preventative care visits, such as annual immunizations and regular check ups and screenings for vision, hearing, appropriate development or preventative dental.  These premiums for middle-income families are significantly more affordable than typical private insurance premiums of $100 to $200 a month, or $2,400 per child annually.

 

The state will cover the difference between what parents contribute in monthly premiums and the actual cost of providing health care for each child, expected to be $45 million in the first year, with savings generated by implementing a primary care case management model (PCCM) for participants in the state's FamilyCare and All Kids health care programs.  Participants will choose a single primary physician who will manage their care by ensuring they get immunizations and other preventative health care services and avoid unnecessary emergency room visits and hospitalizations.  Patients with chronic conditions like asthma or diabetes will have a single care manager to make sure they are getting the treatments and ongoing care they need to avoid acute care.  Primary care physicians will make referrals to specialists for additional care or tests as needed. 

 

By ensuring patients get adequate preventative care on the front end, fewer people will need expensive specialized care or emergency care for critical conditions.  In children, preventative care is especially important.  For example, infants with stomach flu (gastroenteritis) who receive appropriate primary care can avoid being hospitalized for dehydration.  Providing a timely exam and appropriate antibiotic treatment for children with ear infections (otitis media) can prevent chronic ear problems, loss of hearing and the need for surgically placed tubes to relieve fluid build up.  Treating children with bronchitis or minor lung infections in a primary care setting can help to avoid more expensive hospitalization treatment of pneumonia, including intravenous antibiotics and respiratory treatments.  And early identification and appropriate treatment of children who have chronic illnesses, such as asthma, will result in fewer expensive emergency room and inpatient care visits.     

 

Twenty-nine other states, including North Carolina, New York, Texas, Pennsylvania and Louisiana, have realized significant savings by using this model for their Medicaid programs.  Based on independent analyses, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services estimates the state will save more than $56 million in the first year by implementing the PCCM model in all state health programs but those that serve seniors and the blind.

 

Evidence shows that in addition to lacking adequate medical care, children without health insurance are at a disadvantage in the classroom.  For example:

 

·                    According to a Florida Healthy Kids Annual Report in 1997, children who do not have health coverage are 25% more likely to miss school. 

 

·                    A California Health Status Assessment Project on children's health published in 2002 found that children who recently enrolled in health care saw their attendance and performance improve by 68%. 

 

·                    And a 2002 study in Vermont entitled Building Bridges to Healthy Kids and Better Students conducted by the Council of Chief State School Officers showed that children who started out without health insurance saw their reading scores more than double after getting health care.

 

Research also provides strong economic reasons for insuring all children.  Delayed treatment can result in more complex, more threatening and more expensive care later.  While the uninsured pay approximately 35% of their medical bills out of pocket, more than 40% ends up being absorbed by those who do have health insurance in the form of higher premiums.  According to a recent Families USA report, the cost of paying for the uninsured will add $1059 to the average family's insurance premiums here in Illinois in 2005. 

 

In addition, investing in health care can have a positive impact on local economies.  Over the past five years, the health care industry has created nearly 40,000 new jobs in Illinois.  Health care is the second-fastest growing industry in the state, and one of the fastest in the nation. 

 

More information about All Kids is available online at www.allkidscovered.com.

 

Organizations joining the effort to pass the Governor's All Kids plan during the fall veto session include: 

 

100 Black Men of Alton

18th Street Development Corporation

ABJ Community Services

Access Health Network

ACORN

Action for Children

Ada S. McKinley Community Services

Administration for Regional Office of Education #12

Adoption Information Center

Adoption Unlimited, Inc.

Advocate Health Systems

Albany Bank & Trust

Albany Park Chamber of Commerce

Albany Park Community Action Group

Albany Park Community Center

Alivio Medical Center

Alpha Temple Missionary Baptist Church - Reverend Leonard Deville

Alternative School Network

Alton NAACP

AME Ministerial Alliance - Reverend David  Coleman

Archview Corporation

Arlington Glass Company

ASPIRA

Aurora Township

Baxter International

Bishop Larry Trotter-Presiding Prelate of the United  Pentecostal  Church of Christ

Bishop ML Crawford, Dr. Keith Denmark - Church of The Living God

Brandenburg

Bureau County United Way

Business and Professional People for the Public Interest

Campaign for Better Healthcare

Carol Jo Roberston Center

Carroll-Keller Group

Casa Aztlan

Casa Central

Cathedral of Joy Church - Reverend Samuel Hinkle

Catholic Charities

Centennial Missionary Baptist Church - Reverend JD Anderson

Central Illinois Manufacturing Co.

Centro Sin Fronteras

CEO of Illinois Eastern Community College

Chicago and Cook County Building and Construction Trades Council (BCTC)

Chicago and NE Illinois District Council of Carpenters

Chicago Area Projects

Chicago Coalition for the Homeless

Chicago Federation of Labor

Chicago Firefighters Local 2

Chicago Foundation for Women

Chicago Southland Chamber of Commerce

Chicago Teachers Union

Child Welfare League of America

Children's Memorial Hospital

ChildServ

Christ Tabernacle Church - Reverend Henry Barlow

Christian Activity Center

Citizen Action Illinois

City of Flora, Economic Development

City of Mt. Vernon

Community & Economic Development Assoc. of Cook County (CEDA)

Cook County Economic Development Ctr

Cook County Physicians Association

Council of 100 Name changed to Rockford Area Economic Dev Council

Crative Solutions Technologies

Crawford County Democrat Central Committee

CWLA/ Miller Anderson

D.R. Home Furnishing

Deaf and Hard of Hearing Commission

Edgewater Development Corporation

Edwardsville Township

El Hogar del Nino

El Rincon

El Valor

Equality of Illinois

Erie Neighborhood House

Evening Star Missionary Baptist Church - Bishop Vesta Dixon

Evening Star Missionary Baptist Church - Reverend O.C. Morgan

Excel Metal Products

Executive Director of Infant Welfare Society

Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church - Reverend Charles Jenkins

Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church - Reverend Tony Land

Fernwood United Methodist Church - Reverend Al Sampson

Fibergel Technologies

First American Bank

First Baptist Congregational Church - Reverend Jannette Wilson

First Corinthians Baptist Church - Reverend James Thomas

First Unity Baptist Church - Reverend J.C. Boyd

Fox Valley United Way

Freedom Temple Church of God in Christ - Bishop Cody Marshall

Gad Hill - Chicago

GAM Corporation

Generational Blessings - Pastor Olivia Johnson

Global Staffing Services

God First Ministries - Dr. Mildred Harris

Greater Madison County Federation of Labor

Greater Rock MBC - Reverend Floyd James

Green Oaks/ Libertyville/ Mundelein/ Vernon Hills Area Chamber of Commerce

Growth Association of Southwest Illinois

Haskris Co.

Hayes Properties, Inc.

Health and Disability Advocates

Healthcare Alternative Systems

Heart of Illinois United Way Peoria

Heartland Alliance

Heritage International Christian Church - Reverend Dwight Gunn

Hermon Baptist Church - Reverend Alvin Wesley

Hispanic American Construction Industry Association

Holy Cross Church

Hope Presbyterian Church - Reverend Leslie Sanders

IL Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

Illinois AFL-CIO

Illinois Association of Hispanic State Employees

Illinois Association of Public Health Administrators

Illinois Association of School Nurses

Illinois Brotherhood of Electrical Workers State Conference

Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights

Illinois Defense Industry Association

Illinois Federation of Teachers

Illinois Maternal Child Health Coalition

Illinois Migrant Council

Illinois Nurses Association

Illinois Physical Therapy Association

Illinois Pipe Trades

Illinois Public Health Association

Illinois Regional Development Alliance

Illinois Society for Advanced Practice Nursing

Imperial Trailer

Industrical Council of Nearwest Chicago

Infant Welfare Society

Inner City Youth and Adult Foundation

Institute for Latino Progress

International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 21

International Business Center in Rolling Meadows

Jane Addams Bookstore

Jane Addams Hull House

Johnson County 2000

Kankakee River Valley Chamber of Commerce

Kankakee/Will/Grundy Building Trades Association

Kishwaukee United Way - DeKalb/Sycamore

La Rabida Children's Hospital

Laborers District Council, Chicago

Laborers Internation Union - Midwest Region

Lake County Chamber of Commerce

Lake Kinzie Industrial Leadership Council

Madison County Urban League

Manager Office Building in Crawford Co.

McNeal Clinic

Mercy Hospital Medical Center

Messiah-St. Bartholomew Episcopal Church - Father Darryl  James

Mid America Workforce Investment Board

Mount Calvary Baptist Church - Reverend Tyrone Crider

Mount Vernon Baptist Church - Reverend  Johnny Miller

Mujeres Latina en Accion

National Able Network

National Marrow Donor Program

National Womens Veterans United

New Abundant Life Church - Bishop Monroe Mullins

New Hope Community Baptist Church - Reverend Wyatt Rush

New Mount Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church - Reverend Marshall Hatch

New Vision of Faith Fellowship

NextGen Advisors

Nigerian American Assoc of Public Administrators

North River Commission

Northbrook Chamber of Commerce

Northwest and Schaumburg Assn. Of Chamber & Industry

Ounce of Prevention Fund

Painters District Council #30

People's Church of The Harvest Church of God in Christ - Elder Michael Eaddy

Perry Commerical Realty

Pirok Financial Group, Limited

Plano Economic Development Corporation

Plumbers Statewide Council

Praise Tabernacle Deliverance Baptist Church - Bishop Steve Jones

Protestants for the Common Good

Proviso Baptist Church - Bishop Claude Porter

Quality Control Corporation

Quasar Strategies

Quickset International, Inc.

Regional Supt. Of Schools #12

Rend Lake Small Business Development Center

Residing Bishop Simon Gordon, Pastor of Full Gospel Baptist Churches of Illinois

Restoration Missionary Baptist Church - Reverend Michael Bond

Retired School teachers

Reverend Alvin Love-President of the General State Convention of Illinois

Reverend Charles Rogers - Evening Star

Reverend Clarence Moore - Believers Christian Center

Reverend George Henderson- President of the Westside Baptist Ministers Conference

Reverend Herman Larry - New Kingdom Missionary Baptist Church

Reverend John Gray-President of the Baptist Pastors Conference of Chicago and Vicinity

Reverend Joseph Ragland - Park Manor Church of God

Reverend Stephen Thurston-President of The National Baptist Convention of America

Reverend Walter Turner-President of the Baptist Ministers Conference of Chicago and Vicinity                        

Rock Island County Board

Rockford Area Economic Development Council

S & B Manufacturing

Safer Foundation

Salem Tabernacle Church - Reverend Emmanuel Little

SANKOFA, Inc.

Saunders Marketing

SEIU State Council

Sergeant Shriver National Center on Poverty Law

Sinai Health Systems

South Suburban Mayors and Managers

Southwest Illinois Development Authority

Southwest Youth Collaborative

Southwestern Illinois Central Labor Council

St. Anthony's Hospital

St. Bernard's Hospital

St. James Hospital

St. John Missionary Baptist Church - Reverend A. Edward Davis

St. Louis Regional Chamber & Growth Association

St. Mark Baptist Church - Bishop William Jordan

St. Sabina - Chicago

St. Stephen AME Church - Reverend Albert Tyson

Stateline United Way

Supportive Housing Providers Association

The Illinois Maternal Child Health Coalition

The Resurrection Project

Tri-City Building Trades

Tuckpointers, Local 52

Twin Rivers CTE System

UAW, Region 4

UNITE HERE Local 1

United Food and Commerical Workers Local 881

United Mine Workers of America

United Neighborhood Organization

United Power for Action and Justice

United Scrap

United Steel Workers, District 7

United Way of Adams County

United Way of Central Illinois

United Way of Decatur and Mid Illinois

United Way of Elgin

United Way of Illinois Valley

United Way of Kankakee County

United Way of McDonough County

United Way of Whiteside County

University of St Francis

Vanee Foods

Victory Christian Assembly - Apostle Carl White

Village of Maywood

VOA Architects

Voices for Illinois Children

Warren County United Way

Waymen AME Church - Reverend Walter Johnson

WMS Gaming

Women Employed

Women Presidents' Organization

Women's Business Development Center

Word Made Worship Center - Reverend William Jenkins

YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago

Yorkville Chamber of Commerce

Youth Charter Schools Connections