Health Challenges, Policy Challenges: Medicaid and the Disabled in Illinois

Disabled Medicaid beneficiaries in Illinois vary widely in age, health conditions, and personal circumstances. While they make up less than one-fifth of the state’s Medicaid enrollment, they account for more than half of the program’s spending. This report and policy brief examine enrollment and spending trends and the types of services used; they compare Illinois spending with that of other states and with nationwide trends. The documents provide useful background for discussions and decision-making about health care policy and coverage. 

This report and policy brief are products of the Illinois Medicaid Research Project, funded by the Michael Reese Health Trust and implemented by the Chapin Hall Center for Children of the University of Chicago.  See also The Quiet Revolution: Medicaid and SCHIP Coverage of Low-Income Children in Illinois, under the “Children and Parents” topic.