Illinois House Democrats urge leadership to take up healthcare costs, Medicaid coverage

Four Illinois Democratic Congress members joined 70 of their colleagues this week to urge leadership to take up plans to lower out-of-pocket health premium costs and extend Medicaid coverage in certain states in a future spending bill. [Health News Illinois 4.21.2022]

In a letter to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., the House members called on the Senate to include a provision in reconciliation legislation that would expand eligibility for premium tax credits beyond 400 percent of the federal poverty line and increase the size of the tax credit for all income brackets. The proposal, originally sponsored by Democratic Rep. Lauren Underwood of Naperville, was included on a temporary basis in the American Rescue Plan Act.

The letter also calls on the Senate to take up a provision to offer financial incentives to encourage states that have not expanded Medicaid to do so.

“We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to make high-quality care affordable and accessible for all,” the letter said. “We stand ready to join you in working to pass this critical legislation through Congress and get it signed into law swiftly.”

Signees included Underwood and Reps. Marie Newman, D-La Grange; Mike Quigley, D-Chicago; and Brad Schneider, D-Deerfield.

Budget reconciliation allows Congress to make changes to spending and revenue with a majority vote, bypassing the 60-vote threshold needed to override a filibuster in the Senate.

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