SJ0003eng 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

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SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 3

(As Amended by Senate Amendment Nos. 1 & 2)

WHEREAS, The Legislature of the State of Illinois recognizes that access to Medicare is necessary for people under age 65 who are eligible for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI); and

WHEREAS, The Legislature of the State of Illinois recognizes that people under age 65 who qualify for SSDI and who lose their jobs are likely to lose job-related health insurance; and

WHEREAS, The Legislature of the State of Illinois recognizes that most individuals who become disabled, before their disability, were working jobs and paying into Medicare; and

WHEREAS, Now, these people need coverage the most - when they have lost their health, their jobs, their income, and their health insurance; and

WHEREAS, Individuals who qualify for Medicare benefits under Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) must wait five months after the eligibility determination is made to start receiving SSDI benefits and 24 months after that date for Medicare benefits to start; and

WHEREAS, Because of the two-year wait for Medicare benefits, many people with disabilities and their families are likely to face very high out-of-pocket expenditures for long term care or be forced to forego medical care; therefore, be it

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

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