Issue: 1176 Date: 3/7/2013
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Over 500,000 More Illinoisans One Step Closer To Medicaid Eligibility
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An expansion of Medicaid under President Barack Obama's health care overhaul is one step closer in Illinois.
The state Senate passed the expansion 40-19 on Thursday. The bill now goes to the House.
Nearly 2.8 million Illinois residents are currently covered by Medicaid, the government health program for the poor and disabled.
Starting in 2014, an estimated 500,000 to 600,000 uninsured Illinois residents would be newly eligible for coverage. The expansion would mainly benefit low-income adults who don't have children at home.
But what's the income threshold?
People making up to 138 percent of the federal poverty line, or about $15,400 for an individual, would be eligible for Medicaid under the expansion.
The federal government would pay the entire cost of expanding Medicaid the first three years.
