As the Illinois Medicaid program prepares for significant changes and cuts, state and Chicago area officials on Tuesday urged residents to stay informed. [Health News Illinois]

“We want Cook County residents to know that if you qualified for Medicaid yesterday, you still qualify for it today,” Aaron Galeener, the chief administrative officer of Cook County Health’s CountyCare, said during a press conference in Chicago. “We will share information about any changes to your eligibility or new requirements to keep your coverage. Enrollees should renew their Medicaid plan as they have in the past, schedule primary and preventive care and fill their prescriptions.”

The Department of Healthcare and Family Services has estimated that between 270,000 and 500,000 Illinoisans are expected to lose Medicaid coverage due to the work requirement set to go into effect next year, many due to the administrative burden.

Agency Director Elizabeth Whitehorn said Tuesday that they will “continue to fight to protect coverage, minimize harm and champion care for all Illinoisans.”

“Medicaid is a lifeline for the millions of customers we serve across the state, and the new federal cuts and requirements will very likely drive up the uninsured rate, exacerbate disparities and lead to poorer health outcomes,” she said.

Cook County Health CEO Dr. Erik Mikaitis said Medicaid enrollment had already begun to decline nationally, falling 7.6 percent last year. Last September, 15,600 fewer Cook County residents were enrolled in Medicaid than in July.

While they will continue to provide charity care and help residents with their coverage, Mikaitis said there is only so much they can do with the pending changes to the Medicaid program.

We continue to reiterate that we will do as much as we can for as long as we can, but our resources are finite,” he said. “There may come a time when tough choices have to be made.”

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