West Central Reporter

C.D. Davidsmeyer, a state representative for Illinois' 100th District, said that the actual costs of healthcare for illegal immigrants have "approached 300% more than the estimated costs." He made this statement in a Facebook post on February 27.

"Healthcare for illegal immigrants has cost the taxpayers of Illinois over $2billion," said Davidsmeyer, according to Facebook. "A recent report from the Auditor General has stated that the actual costs approached 300% MORE than the estimated costs. This does not take into account the cost of services for feeding, housing, etc.!!"

According to an audit, discrepancies were found in enrollment numbers and costs compared to initial estimates. In the 2023 fiscal year, enrollment exceeded projections for both programs. The Health Benefits for Immigrant Seniors (HBIS) program, intended for individuals aged 65 and older, had 15,831 enrollees, significantly surpassing the estimate of 6,700. For the Health Benefits for Immigrant Adults (HBIA) program, enrollment for adults aged 42-54 reached 36,912, doubling the estimated figure of 18,800. The program for adults aged 55-64 had 17,024 enrollees, exceeding the estimate of 8,000. This information was reported by CapitolFax.

Screenshot of State Representative C.D. Davidsmeyer's Feb. 27 Facebook post | State Representative C.D. Davidsmeyer's Facebook page.

In a video included in his Facebook post, Davidsmeyer expressed surprise upon learning that Governor J.B. Pritzker also wanted to end the HBIA program. He said in that video: "As the sponsor of House Bill 1456, which will end taxpayer-funded healthcare for illegal immigrants, I was surprised to see last week that the governor actually supported part of my idea. He wants to get rid of the HBIA program; unfortunately he does not want to get rid of the HBIS program, which is something that I hope we can work toward."

Davidsmeyer continued: "We couldn’t afford free healthcare for illegal immigrants when the first HBIS program was passed during COVID. And we certainly cannot afford it now."

House Bill 1456 would terminate the requirement for the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to provide healthcare for noncitizens over age 42. It would also remove obligations for covering kidney transplants and related care post-transplant management drugs for noncitizens.

Davidsmeyer has represented Illinois' 100th House District since his appointment in 2012. Born and raised in Jacksonville, Illinois, he holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Miami University in Ohio. His career includes serving as a legislative assistant to Congressman John Shimkus in Washington D.C., as well as roles as Operations Manager and Vice President at IRC Inc., and serving on the Jacksonville City Council.