Pacione-Zayas to host health care enrollment event

CHICAGO –To help individuals enroll in health care following a law expanding health care access, State Senator Cristina H. Pacione-Zayas and other local officials are hosting an enrollment event to answer questions about eligibility and offer assistance.

“Before this expansion, many people in my community were unable to access safe, affordable health care, which was detrimental to their physical health and quality of life,” said Pacione-Zayas (D-Chicago). “I am thrilled that Medicaid-like health care coverage is now accessible to all folks who qualify under the poverty guidelines, regardless of immigration status, because healthcare is and should be treated as a basic human right.”

Thanks to a new law supported by Senator Pacione-Zayas, HBIA, or Health Benefits for Immigrant Adults, enrollment is now available to anyone in Illinois age 42 or older who earns under 138 percent of the federal poverty guideline—regardless of immigration status. This measure will have an enormous impact on many immigrant families who have struggled to access health care in the past, or even avoided necessary treatment because of their immigration status or financial resources. Sen. Pacione-Zayas is looking forward to how this initiative will improve health care access for families in her community.

“In a medical crisis, the last thing folks should have to worry about is if they should risk not seeking medical attention because the costs are too high—they should only have to worry about getting themselves or their loved ones better,” Pacione-Zayas said. “This law is the first step to making health care more financially accessible. I look forward to seeing the impact on this enrollment drive in my community, and making sure families can focus on nursing their loved ones back to health instead of how they can afford to pay for health care out-of-pocket.”

The health care enrollment event will take place on Aug. 27 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Northeastern University’s El Centro campus. Attendees should also bring their identification, proof of income, and proof of household size.

Walk-in appointments will be available on a first-come, first-served basis, subject to availability. However, those wishing to attend the event are strongly encouraged to make an appointment in advance by calling 312-620-7592.