As Gov. J.B. Pritzker pitches for more federal funds to deal with the burgeoning immigrant crisis, one question remains: How much is this influx costing Illinois in terms of free healthcare?
Though immigration is a humanitarian crisis that has inundated Illinois - especially Chicago - with winter approaching, both Democrats and Republicans with the Legislative Audit Commission are seeking answers on the potential financial impact of free health care programs.
In her quest for further financial transparency, State Rep. Amy Elik (R-Alton), a member of the Legislative Audit Commission, is looking to the results of a comprehensive audit of the Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) Medicaid-like benefits for undocumented immigrants ages 42 and up. It was her resolution that unanimously passed the commission on Nov. 7.
In a Dec. 14 interview with The Record, Elik discussed her hopes for this audit and its necessity.
“Because of the State of Illinois becoming a sanctuary state a while back, we’ve now seen this overwhelming flow of migrants coming in; and unfortunately, the costs that we're incurring in the state are also overwhelming,” Elik said.
Given her accounting background, Elik was concerned.
“We really can't afford it," she said. "Services for our citizens that have lived here and worked here for generations are suffering, while we're attracting more and more people who are unable to fend for themselves.”
Although the audit will deal with health costs for three fiscal years from 2021-23, Elik said the state is also feeling the financial impact of paying for immigrants’ basic needs in rent assistance and more.
“I think Illinois citizens are feeling like we're giving more to them than what Illinoisans are getting,” she said.
One of the problems that prompted Elik to seek an audit is low-ball estimates for the costs of healthcare programs and the number of immigrants enrolled in them, she explained. As it became clear in May that these costs were “ballooning out of control,” she said the state decided to pause - effective Nov. 6 - new enrollment for ages 65 and older in the Health Benefits for Immigrant Seniors (HBIS) program.
According to an Oct. 19 press release by the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services, enrollment in its Medicaid-like HBIS program was stopped at a benchmark of approximately 16,500 participants. No current enrollees are excluded, but no new enrollees are welcome. An even greater enrollment of approximately 69,000 impacts the Health Benefits for Immigrant Adults program for ages 42 to 64, the release stated.
The situation caused difficulties with the state’s budget planning.
“Back in May, before the budget was finalized, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services put out some new estimate numbers that found that the program costs had widely exceeded expectations and that not just the cost, but the enrollment estimates that were made before they expanded these programs were also quite low,” Elik said.
The problem left the state scrambling to fund programs at budget time, and particularly HBIS, with the governor stepping in to limit enrollment, Elik added.
Due to the far-reaching impacts, Elik said her resolution received bipartisan support with both Democrats and Republicans on the Legislative Audit Commission seeking accurate information. She anticipates that the Governor’s Office will be able to use this information to make better decisions.
“Really, the overall goal is to make sure that we have a transparent and accurate accounting of what has already been spent,” she said, noting the audit will target three age groups: 65 and up, 55 to 64, and 42 to 54.
“I think what can be done following the audit is to make sure that we are spending the money appropriately and analyzing if there's cost savings available,” Elik said. “Hopefully, the Democrat majority will use those audit results to make good legislative decisions.”
The audit results are not anticipated for at least one year, but Elik has confidence that the outcome will be reliable.
“I have been really impressed with the Auditor General’s impartiality…,” she said.
While waiting for results next fall or winter, she said the onus will be on the state to plan as best it can.
“We're going to have to be very careful and cautious about how these programs are being administered,” Elik said.
According to Elik’s website, the Legislative Audit Commission consists of an equal composition of Democrats and Republicans and is tasked with reviewing the stewardship of public funds.
As a sanctuary state, Illinois is among the top 10 states for population bursts, with an estimated increase of 238,000 unauthorized immigrants between 1990 and 2000, according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. That puts the Illinois total at 432,000 for the year 2000, behind California, Texas and New York, according to the most recent DHS estimates available.
According to Wirepoints, Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s requests for federal assistance during a November meeting with President Joe Biden may make Illinois even more desirable for immigrants. This request allegedly included humanitarian aid, fast-tracked work permits and federal relief from the winter elements—all things that could entice new arrivals.