Advocacy
Whether by sharing important information about disability issues with friends and family or taking part in an event near you, we'd love for you to get involved.
You Can Help!
Join Easterseals today in educating and informing public officials about issues that affect individuals with disabilities. As part of the greater Easterseals network of affiliates, we are interconnected to help individuals live a full life and help them thrive, no matter what stage of life they’re in. We stand together as many of our network depend on federal funding for their operations.
View Easterseals action alerts and steps to contact your legislators below:
You can find your legislators here ---> Find and contact elected officials | USAGov & locate your STATE OFFICIALS.
From there, you would locate their contact information either clicking on the information provided
OR searching by name or district -->Illinois General Assembly Home Page
Stay Informed:
- Illinois primary elections are on Tuesday, March 17, 2026.
- Winners of the primary election will go on to campaign for November 2026's election.
- Check your federal, state, and local elections by visiting ballotpedia.org or illinoisvoterguide.org as election day gets closer.
- Stay up to date on your insurance and services, especially if you are covered by Medicaid/Medicare.
- Check-in with providers regularly to verify coverage of services.
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Prepare for Policy Changes/Updates:
- Track information/direct letters from Medicaid/Medicare agencies.
- Set reminders for eligibility reviews and open enrollment periods.
- Budget for new co-pays or premium increases.
Advocacy Effort: Update on Medicaid and Medicare Changes
- Mandatory Work Requirements - Adults aged 10-64 must complete 80 hrs/month of work or volunteer activity, with semiannual paperwork to remain eligible. Individuals/children with disabilities are exceptions, however, will still require regular paperwork to determind inability to work.
- More Frequent Eligibility Checks - Redetermination occurs every 6 months. Missing a form could mean losing coverage.
- New Co pays for Moderate-Income Families - If you earn 100-138% (may vary slightly) of the Federal Poverty Level, expect to pay up to $35 per service.
- Funding Cuts & Access Risk - A federal shortfall of up to 21% may force fewer providers to accept Medicaid and could shut rural hospitals, non-profits, and futher limit services at other clinics/organizations.
- Retroactive Coverage Timeline - No more three-month backdating services. Retroactive coverage limited to 1 month.
Advocacy Effort: Senate Primary Election 2026
Please vote in the next senate election. Illinois is heading into its first open Senate primary since 2010. Senator Dick Durbin's retirement fromt he US Senate leaves room for strong candidates to campaign on the promise to advocate for Illinois residents and change the course of what is to come from the federal government, especially Medicaid and Medicare.
Why This Matters
- Whoever wins the Democratic primary will determine whether Illinois fights for state-level action on Medicaid wavers, prevents harsh co-pays, and sustains new prenatal or chronic-care benefits.
- The Senate seat race influences whether federal Medicaid funding is defended or cut which is a need for Illinois. We could see a deep cut to Federal matching assistance.
