This is 100% paid for by state taxpayers. The program of health care that they get is actually better than those of our own residents that are on Medicaid.
And in addition to the over $1 billion dollar cost of healthcare, we are also providing free daycare for their children, including free housing, food subsidies, cash subsidies. So the total cost of this program is in the billions of dollars, and that means key programs for our developmentally disabled, for our seniors, these the people are now being crowded out. --Illinois Senator Dave Syverson
Illinois own state Senator confirms illegals were provided health insurance
— Wall Street Apes (@WallStreetApes) October 29, 2025
Illinois Democrats all said this wasn’t happening
🚨 Illinois Democrats even passed a law specifically to give illegals healthcare, with complete “Total coverage” for free
“The Democratic majority and… pic.twitter.com/yRObazRRkH
Last year, and we raised this concern last year, the Democratic majority and the Governor put into place a law that said we were going to provide free health care for undocumented citizens from age 42 on up, that we were going to provide them free healthcare. At the time, they said they anticipated about 10,000 residents would take advantage of this program. We raised the concern. We said that was going to be a problem. By the beginning of this year, the state said, "Well, we're wrong. There was about 52,000." Now this week the state came out and said, "We are wrong again. That number is now 120,000 undocumenteds are going to be receiving free hTlthcare at a cost of over $1 billion dollars. That's money that's not in the budget. That's going to create a significant problem. And so here in Illinois, we are now adding thousands a month as you have unhealthy and sick undocumented citizens from around the country, from frankly around the world, that are coming to Illinois because of the fact that we're the only state that covers these individuals for "Total HealthCare," and so this is something that is really creating significant problem for our budget.
1:33. Let's talk a little bit more about saving the coverage they are receiving. It's my understanding that the federal government provides no matching dollars for this program, that it's fully Illinois taxpayer funded. What about the health care that they are receiving. It's also my understanding that it's probably even better than people on Medicaid, our citizens on Medicaid, who really need coverage. Can you kind of talk about that?
1:55. This is important issue is well, another frustrating thing. The president opens the borders up, but then he says we're not going to pay for any of the healthcare. This is 100% paid for by state taxpayers. The program of health care that they get is actually better than those of our own residents that are on Medicaid. And so our low income, struggling families in Illinois that are on Medicaid, they do not get as good of services as these non-citizens are getting that are coming into Illinois. So it's/they're costing us significantly more than it costs our own residents. And in addition to the over $1 billion dollar cost of healthcare, we are also providing free daycare for their children, including free housing, food subsidies, cash subsidies. So the total cost of this program is in the billions of dollars, and that means key programs for our developmentally disabled, for our seniors, these the people are now being crowded out. Our own citizens' programs are not getting the funding they need because now we are becoming the healthcare provider for every sick individual in the world that can come to Illinois. If this doesn't stop, I can guarantee you this does not end well for Illinois.
Here is a summary from Grok,
Illinois Senator Dave Syverson Reveals $1.1 Billion Cost of Undocumented Immigrant Healthcare Program.
Illinois State Senator Dave Syverson disclosed that the Health Benefits for Immigrant Adults program, launched in 2020 under Governor J.B. Pritzker, enrolled 120,000 undocumented adults over 42, far exceeding initial estimates of 10,000, with annual costs over $1.1 billion funded solely by state taxpayers. The program provided comprehensive coverage including primary care, prescriptions, dental, vision, and transportation, but closed on July 1, 2025, after depleting funds, redirecting resources to a seniors-only initiative amid concerns over straining services for citizens. A 2023 state audit highlighted enrollment underestimations and improper sign-ups, intensifying scrutiny of the policy's fiscal impact.
