>> More than 9,000 immigrants in Illinois are expected to lose Medicaid coverage as a result of changes to federal law taking effect Thursday.

The affected groups include refugees, people granted asylum and survivors of human trafficking.

The policy change leaves health care providers and community organizations scrambling to help people find other ways to access care.

Joining us to discuss the local impact.

Our Ali Touro director of development and communications at the Syrian Community Network.

your B-day Sanchez, the wellness program, director of Refugee one.

And Mary say Dak director of care coordination at near North help.

We reached out to the Centers for Medicaid, Medicare services for comment but did not hear back.

Thanks to the 3 of you for joining us.

So as we mentioned, the changes in Medicaid eligibility, they're taking effect today.

They have they hold coverage for the groups that we just mentioned.

Maya, what's your reaction to these changes?

It has been a really heavy time for us.

There have been so many hits against our immigrant community and they seem to not stop.

So we have known about this.

I think we have >> hoped that there would be Hail Mary to say things.

And and now we're here.

So we have been prepping for it and has been a really just devastating time for so many of our families that know the impact of what this is going to be for them.

>> And I think there may be some confusion also about who this affects, right.

This is not about undocumented immigrants who we're talking about here rate in the grips you name.

So we're talking about folks who already have a slightly status refugees.

And these are groups of people who are highly vetted, who have gone through all the hoops and jump through all the things and done what they needed to do and really are here because there's nowhere for them.

And so I think the miss that are going around are about people who are here to take advantage of the system and are just coming over quickly and doing those things.

But that's not at all.

We're talking about for folks who may be rebuilding their lives in this country.

Ali, Medicaid's often, you know, their primary source, the primary access to health care.

>> What is losing that support mean for someone who's already navigating so many challenges?

>> So let me start with that and to shut your ideas.

How big is this number over around 10,000 people?

If you are Chicago Sky fan the plane Wintrust arena be confirmed that the stadium with numbers and mid the Kate.

And it's part off the, you know, refugees pack a I think through the U.S.

strict huge admission program, which is this month.

And now with this new administrations.

So he started If you do, when they arrive here to receive 3 months, severance has prompted our government, including Medicaid.

And based on the case you are seeing get are no cop.

And we know kids or know if I may OK that this said this the benefits are very right.

So but, you know, it's it's popped up.

The United States, no, a commitment to international organizations such as United Nations, right?

And sites pop up that state's it's part of a state make these 2 one note about populations right then and refuse you must apply for green card after an 11 months after settlement and that to continue to be eligible to Cancun, receive benefits, right?

So now that that green card process, it's taking even longer than people say, right?

It's likely had taken exactly.

So get his that and again, like myself.

>> apply for cards.

After 11 months could be with about can cause within a month or 2 months now we have cases that are that cause application is pending for 2 years, 3 years, for example, I'm working with the Monday right here to the U.S.

Refugee admissions Meagan that in time see benefits.

They have a really 6.

I'm so he's suffering found.

He's suffering >> sickness that requires really needs >> indicate said we says so in in warden language.

If doesn't receive toast say he would die.

So unfortunately he turned 19.

Okay.

Officially, he's an add-on to in the case.

Okay.

And are highly dependent indicate said we says and if they cannot afford note that for private health insurance, which they cannot, father to be in the cabinet He told that his son is going to die.

Very frightening.

Frightening time for that family.

And for many families experiencing this Mary.

>> How does this coverage has impact health care systems?

It overwhelms the system that's already under a lot of duress because these people will have very limited choices about where they can go.

>> there are people in the community who do take care of folks that don't have health health insurance or health coverage.

the numbers will quickly overwhelm the amount resources that are available.

What happens when a patient comes in needing treatment doesn't have insurance.

No it depends on the setting.

So at on your North House, where federally qualified health center and we take care of people like this all the time.

And so we will counsel them and find out what resources they do have what they need.

And then see if there's any programs that apply.

If there is some income, there's a sliding ski scale and then if not, then it's free.

Cook County health is another place with through their Caroline program that will provide services for people who are uninsured.

And that's both inpatient and outpatient care.

Maya, what are the options for folks who might be losing coverage?

I think a lot is like what mayor is saying.

We're working with a lot of folks and it's been for months of prepping for this of thinking about.

>> Can you go to your current provider and ask great the same programs that you're talking about?

What is available as option for for me to get care.

Otherwise we are starting to look at these other resources.

Some folks are switching to the clinics that you referred to as well that are serving folks who are underinsured are not insured.

Other people are looking for prescription savings programs, things like that.

Some folks might have options through work, but it's pretty limited.

I think all of us can attest to know how expensive insurance is.

So there's not a lot of options.

And I think people are doing really creative things and in the community can't make up that gap.

But something, you know, at refugee one.

And I think a lot of other organizations are doing is trying to think of what are the things we can do.

How do we raise money when there are these medication emergencies and folks can't afford a sliding scale fee for chemotherapy, for dialysis, for really lifesaving things like Ali was speaking about.

So that's a lot of what we're also thinking about it.

And what are the opportunities for our community?

2 help people stay alive and really show them that despite all the things coming against them, there are folks who really care about them and value their life here.

You mentioned a family that you're working with.

They have a 19 year-old son who's very ill.

What are the next steps for someone like that?

>> And then we are asking everyone to know.

And John and pro, I know some support show some support it feels like we are going back to 1969.

I Stockton the human 18, a large population people are receiving the public benefit by at that moment could be the secret churches, mosque and agent and a jump in and they tried to stop hoarding know families communities that this is this is one avenue.

And there have been, you know, we have to do you know, some advocacy work at the estate Linda, right?

And also the I've been you know, we have to ask for their government.

to reallocate the budget in stuff, cutting the programs, right, friends we know day.

they increase to the Pentagon budget, but more want reviewing dollar us so that to to find the Pentagon programs cutting the hour.

Humanitarians programs here.

>> very there's some other changes that are being made to Medicaid in the coming months.

What else is what else happened to the program?

The population of adults who are not Medicare age without dependents is also under review.

And there are multiple changes plan for that program that's known is that we call them the Affordable Care Act, adults So the 2 biggest ones that are going to it.

Multiple challenges are a work or volunteer education requirement.

That is 80 hours a month.

It's not clear how the record keeping is going to go on that.

And and then the other piece of it is the Reedy piece, which is re determination is basically re upping your eligible Bility for Medicaid and it was at current sorry at present only once a year and it's already a challenge for people.

They move.

They don't understand the letters don't get where they're supposed to get.

And without that letter, the process just stalls and then they want the first time they they figure it out when they go to the doctor's office and they're told they're not covered anymore.

And so they're increasing not from one year to 6 months to 6 months at.

But you also have to meet the stipulation around to maintain your coverage around work volunteer education requirements.

some people, though, they agree with this change in the Trump administration that Medicaid should only be for U.S.

citizens.

What would you say to that?

>> I have a lot of thoughts about that.

I think one with really scary and painful road to go down to start valuing what human life is.

Dignified unworthy of just surviving.

We're not even talking about thriving.

Health care is a really basic human need.

So I think on a very moral level, that is a really scary thing to think about.

And I think just a lot of what we're hearing couch unexplained as being these really economic choices and they're anything.

But we see it.

It is it is racism and it is trying to be mass to something else.

And that's something we should all be really scared about.

frankly, this is going affect all of us regardless of our status and of our coverage is changing.

This is going to be