SPRINGFIELD, IL—Illinois State Senator William Delgado (D-Chicago) recognized the continuing efforts of the Campaign for Better Health Care Reform in their efforts to pass meaningful healthcare legislation.

“Even though I could not be at the rally today, I want to applaud their continued effort to maintain the focus on this important issue,” said Senator Delgado, Chairman of the Illinois Senate Public Health Committee.  “As the health care debate continues in Washington, it is important to continue the push here in Illinois for accessible and affordable healthcare for everyone.”

According to the Campaign for Better Health Care, Illinois has the seventh largest projected number of premature deaths due to a lack of coverage over the next 10 years.  Thousands of Illinoisans are likely to die due to lack of coverage if health reform fails to pass either statewide or nationally.  Their mission is to inform the public about the needs of the over 1.4 million uninsured Illinoisans.

The Institute of Medicine reported that, in the year 2000, more than 18,000 adults nationwide died because they did not have health insurance. The Urban Institute updated that estimate and reported that approximately 22,000 adults died in 2006 due to a lack of health insurance.

“These astronomical numbers show us just how important health care is for the millions of people who continue to suffer the consequences of being uninsured,” Senator Delgado said.

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