Illinois Senate Approves Medicaid Expansion

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Credit wikipedia.org

An expansion of Medicaid under President Barack Obama's health care overhaul is one step closer in Illinois. The state Senate passed the expansion 40 - 19 yesterday. The bill now goes to the House.

Nearly 2.8 million Illinois residents are currently covered by Medicaid, the government health program for the poor and disabled. And starting in 2014, an estimated 600,000 uninsured Illinois residents would be newly eligible for coverage. The expansion would mainly benefit low-income adults who don't have children at home.

The federal government would pay the entire cost of expanding Medicaid the first three years. Governor Pat Quinn is urging the state House to approve the bill and applauds the Senate for passing the expansion legislation.