Early Wednesday morning, the Illinois General Assembly passed the FY25 state budget, which includes a record amount of funding for the Health Benefits for Immigrant Adults and Health Benefits for Immigrant Seniors programs. Total funding for both programs is estimated at $629 million, which includes $440 million from the General Revenue Fund and $189 million from federal reimbursements and other sources. This is a nearly 15 percent increase in funding from FY24, when the programs were funded at $550 million. “We applaud the Illinois General Assembly, in conjunction with Gov. JB Pritzker, for passing much needed funding for the Health Benefits for Immigrant Adults and Health Benefits for Immigrant Seniors programs that support healthier families and boost our economy as a whole. This funding level should ensure that the nearly 70,000 people enrolled in either program will not be forced off of their much-needed coverage, a significant victory for undocumented Illinoisans who rely on this life-saving healthcare as well as for the healthcare and immigrant advocates who have fought for these critical programs for years.” Created in 2020, the HBIS program provides health coverage to undocumented individuals aged 65 and older who would be eligible for Medicaid but for their immigration status. The HBIA program provides similar coverage for individuals aged 42 to 64. Generally, asylum seekers do not qualify for HBIA or HBIS, but may qualify for other health coverage programs from the state or federal government.