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LRB096 03280 DRJ 13297 r






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SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION


 
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    WHEREAS, The Legislature of the State of Illinois 
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recognizes that Alzheimer's disease is the 21st century's 
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health epidemic; and

 
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    WHEREAS, The Legislature of the State of Illinois 
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recognizes that ten million baby boomers in the United States 
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will develop Alzheimer's disease; and

 
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    WHEREAS, The Legislature of the State of Illinois 
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recognizes that one in eight baby boomers in America will 
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develop Alzheimer's; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Today, there are between 200,000 and 500,000 
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people under age 65 with young-onset Alzheimer's disease or 
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other dementias in the United States; and

 
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    WHEREAS, People under age 65 with Alzheimer's disease or 
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other dementias whose employment is terminated because of the 
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disease are likely to lose job-related health insurance and may 
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become uninsured and uninsurable; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Individuals with young-onset Alzheimer's disease 
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who qualify for Medicare benefits under Social Security 
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Disability Insurance (SSDI) must wait five months after the 
 


 






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eligibility determination is made to start receiving SSDI 
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benefits and 24 months after that date for Medicare benefits to 
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start; and

 
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    WHEREAS, The Medicare waiting period causes many people 
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with Alzheimer's disease to decide whether they will face high 
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medical out-of-pocket expenditures for care or forgo medical 
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care; therefore, be it

 
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    RESOLVED, BY THE  SENATE OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL 
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ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
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CONCURRING HEREIN, that we urge the members of the Illinois 
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delegation to the United States Congress to phase out 
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Medicare's two-year waiting period so that persons under age 65 
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with Alzheimer's disease are eligible for Medicare immediately 
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after receiving their determination of disability; and be it 
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further

 
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    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be sent 
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to each member of the Illinois Congressional delegation.