SPRINGFIELD — To ensure people with disabilities no longer have to choose between higher pay and receiving essential disability services, State Senator Graciela Guzmán introduced legislation to remove the income and asset limits currently on the Health Benefits for Workers with Disabilities program.  

“People with other ability levels are not expected to pass up on job opportunities because they would lose access to essential health care coverage,” said Guzmán (D-Chicago). “The Health Benefits for Workers with Disabilities program does amazing work to support individuals with disabilities, but could be an even better asset if it was expanded to support folks making a higher income.” 

The Health Benefits for Workers with Disabilities was created in 2002 so that people with disabilities can work without fear of losing access to Medicaid coverage or being denied health care for preexisting conditions. Currently, this program is only available to individuals who make less than 350% of the Federal Poverty Level and have less than $25,000 worth of non-exempt assets. For an individual, this means making $4,564 a month or $54,775 annually. 

These stipulations leave many people with disabilities torn between pursuing higher-paying jobs or maintaining access to the HBWD program. Senate Bill 2471 would remove the income and asset limits for the HBWD program, encouraging people with disabilities to advance their careers without losing access to essential support for their disability. 

"Despite rhetoric from federal administrators, people with disabilities across the country are workers, and we contribute to the economy, " said Sebastian Nalls, the Healthcare/HCBS Policy Analyst at Access Living, a disability service and advocacy center led by and for disabled people in Chicago. "For people with disabilities, career advancement, increasing work hours, or even entering the workforce at all can mean losing vital Medicaid benefits. This is an unacceptable reality. Illinois must join the states across the country that have already eliminated asset and income limits from their Medicaid buy-in programs, which improves the lives of disabled people by securing and growing our economic well being without jeopardizing our access to healthcare."

“The logic that once someone makes more money, they can inherently afford insurance outside of the HBWD program is outdated,” said Guzmán. “With pre-existing conditions, it can be extremely difficult for folks with disabilities to get approved and pay a reasonable amount out of their paycheck. More likely than not, this will still cause them financial strain, more than any raise their new work could offer. This measure would instead empower people with disabilities to go after their career dreams instead of limiting them by taking away their access to care once they reach a certain economic threshold.”

Senate Bill 2471 was heard in the Senate Appropriations – Health and Human Services committee on Wednesday.