093_SB0783

 
                                     LRB093 03237 JLS 03254 b

 1        AN ACT in relation to insurance.

 2        Be  it  enacted  by  the People of the State of Illinois,
 3    represented in the General Assembly:

 4        Section 5.  The Children's Health Insurance  Program  Act
 5    is amended by changing Section 5 as follows:

 6        (215 ILCS 106/5)
 7        (Section scheduled to be repealed on July 1, 2003)
 8        Sec.  5.  Legislative intent.  The General Assembly finds
 9    that, for the economic and social benefit of all citizens  of
10    the  State  of Illinois, it is important to enable low-income
11    children of this State, to the  extent  funding  permits,  to
12    access health benefits coverage, especially preventive health
13    care.   The  General  Assembly  recognizes that assistance to
14    help  families  purchase  health  benefits   for   low-income
15    children must be provided in a fair and equitable fashion and
16    must treat all children at the same income level in a similar
17    fashion.   The  State  of  Illinois  should  help  low-income
18    families   transition   from   a  health  care  system  where
19    government partners with families to provide health  benefits
20    to low-income children to a system where families with higher
21    incomes  eventually transition into private or employer based
22    health  plans.   This  Act  is  not  intended  to  create  an
23    entitlement.
24    (Source: P.A. 90-736, eff. 8-12-98.)