CHICAGO - Governor Rod. R. Blagojevich announced March 4th "Illinois Covered," his plan to give every Illinoisan access to affordable and quality health coverage. The new insurance plan was a key component of his March 7th budget address.

While the Governor's "All Kids" plan, which took effect last year, extended coverage to all children in the state, approximately 1.4 million adults in Illinois are currently uninsured. A majority, roughly 75 percent, are from families with moderate incomes or higher. The Governor's plan is designed to provide affordable coverage to the uninsured and will also help many middle-income families and small businesses that are currently enrolled in health insurance plans save thousands a year on healthcare costs.

Illinois Covered Choice: Creates a new, affordable comprehensive insurance plan that anyone without employer-sponsored health insurance in Illinois can purchase. This statewide pool of coverage will offer Illinoisans lower and stable rates. Business groups will be able to connect many of their members with this new affordable insurance, and small business owners can also purchase this product on behalf of their employees.

Illinois Covered Rebate: Lowers premiums for moderate to middle-income Illinoisans ($20,000-$80,000 for a family of four) to help them afford their health insurance. The rebate will vary based on income, and those with lower incomes would get a larger rebate.

Illinois Covered Assist: Similar to FamilyCare and Medicaid, individuals or couples who are very low-income will now have access to full coverage through the state (individuals currently making less than $10,210 annually, and couples making less than $13,690).

The Governor also proposes expanding the existing FamilyCare program to 400% of the federal poverty level for those who do not have access to employer sponsored coverage, to expand health benefits for workers with disabilities, and to allow dependants to retain coverage until age 29. Additionally, the state will work with both consumers and healthcare providers to develop a Roadmap to Health that will improve the state's overall healthcare system and promote wellness, while better managing chronic conditions.

• Lack of insurance is the sixth leading cause of death in the U.S.
• Medical-related bankruptcies have jumped 2,200 percent since 1981. The middle class accounts for 90 percent of these cases. And in many of these cases, the families who suffered bankruptcies had health insurance. They just couldn’t keep up with the rising costs.
• A FamiliesUSA study found that the health insurance premiums for families here in Illinois increased by $1059 due to costs incurred by the uninsured. As health insurance premiums increase and employers cut back on coverage, employers who continue offering benefits pay more.
• The HR Policy Association estimates the annual cost of reduced productivity due to uninsured workers in the nation’s top 200 largest companies is between $87 billion and $126 billion.