The state of Illinois has paused co-pay requirements for non-citizens enrolled in a pair of Medicaid-like health insurance plans.
Capital News Illinois reports that the Department of Healthcare and Family Services says it needs more time to properly implement that requirement.
The programs are for non-citizens aged 42 and over who would otherwise qualify for Medicaid if not for their immigration status.
Lawmakers authorized the Pritzker administration to take cost-saving measures in a bill passed earlier this year to control the skyrocketing cost of the programs.
The co-pay requirements went into effect July 1, but HFS announced last week (Sept. 5) that it was pausing the program and any co-pays received so far should be refunded.
Agency leaders could not estimate when the co-pays would be reinstated.