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1
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 3

 
2     WHEREAS, The Legislature of the State of Illinois
3 recognizes that access to Medicare is necessary for people
4 under age 65 who are eligible for Social Security Disability
5 Insurance (SSDI); and
 
6     WHEREAS, The Legislature of the State of Illinois
7 recognizes that people under age 65 who qualify for SSDI and
8 who lose their jobs are likely to lose job-related health
9 insurance; and
 
10     WHEREAS, The Legislature of the State of Illinois
11 recognizes that most individuals who become disabled, before
12 their disability, were working jobs and paying into Medicare;
13 and
 
14     WHEREAS, Now, these people need coverage the most - when
15 they have lost their health, their jobs, their income, and
16 their health insurance; and
 
17     WHEREAS, Individuals who qualify for Medicare benefits
18 under Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) must wait
19 five months after the eligibility determination is made to
20 start receiving SSDI benefits and 24 months after that date for
21 Medicare benefits to start; and
 

 

 

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1     WHEREAS, Because of the two-year wait for Medicare
2 benefits, many people with disabilities and their families are
3 likely to face very high out-of-pocket expenditures for long
4 term care or be forced to forego medical care; therefore, be it
 
5     RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL
6 ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
7 CONCURRING HEREIN, that we urge the members of the Illinois
8 delegation to the United States Congress to phase out
9 Medicare's two-year waiting period so that persons under age 65
10 are eligible for Medicare immediately after receiving their
11 determination of disability; and be it further
 
12     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be sent
13 to each member of the Illinois Congressional delegation.