Overview

• A state audit revealed Illinois spent $1.6 billion on healthcare programs for immigrants since 2020, far exceeding initial cost estimates.
• Enrollment figures were significantly underestimated, with some age groups seeing more than double the projected participation numbers.
• Auditors identified cases of improper enrollment, including individuals eligible for federal Medicaid and others with duplicate identification numbers.
• Governor JB Pritzker proposed eliminating funding for the program covering immigrants aged 42–64 in the 2026 budget, while maintaining reduced funding for seniors over 65.
• Republican lawmakers criticized the programs as financially unsustainable and called for their immediate termination, citing fraud and mismanagement.