Health Care Reform

The hospitals of Illinois are committed to meaningful health care reform, including expanding health coverage to the uninsured. Meaningful health care reform must include equitable access to affordable, medically necessary, high-quality health care for everyone.

The current economic downturn has left an estimated 48 million Americans, including at least 1.8 million Illinoisans, without health insurance.  Lack of health care coverage means these people often delay receiving routine and preventive health care and purchasing needed medication until they are seriously ill. The growing number of uninsured affects not only these individuals, but other patients and the hospitals, emergency rooms and trauma centers that care for them. Every day the caregivers in Illinois hospitals see that the absence of coverage is a significant barrier to getting people the right care, at the right time, in the right place.

We know that successful health care reform will require a shared responsibility among all stakeholders in the health care system, including health care providers, insurers, employers, consumers, and government. We also recognize that expanded access to health care coverage must be achieved without harming coverage for those currently insured.

For a report from the U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services on the need for health insurance reform in Illinois, click here.