UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS IS BEING SCALED BACK.

>> ILLINOIS IS ONE OF TWO STATES WHO GIVES HEALTHCARE BENEFITS TO UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS BUT THEY ARE BEING SCALED BACK AND THAT IS CAUSING A POLITICAL PROBLEM.

AMANDA VINICKY JOINS US.

>> Reporter: ILLINOIS WAS THE FIRST BUT IT IS COSTLY, AND NOW THE STATE IS GIVING BACK.

THEY PROVIDE COVERAGE TO UNDOCUMENTED CHILDREN UNDER A PROGRAM THAT BEGIN IN 2020 AND HAS EXPANDED.

IT NOW ALSO COVERS ADULTS.

THESE IMMIGRANTS ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR FEDERAL MEDICAID BENEFITS.

LAWMAKERS AND OTHER ADVOCATES TRY TO GROW THE PROGRAM TO INCLUDE ALL LOW INCOME ADULTS.

THE OPPOSITE IS HAPPENING.

GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER ANNOUNCED CHANGES.

AMONG THEM , AND ENROLLMENT DEPOSIT .

IT BEGINS JULY 1st, ELIGIBLE RESIDENTS WILL NOT BE ABLE TO SIGN UP.

THEY WILL CAP IT AT 16,500 , THE NUMBER OF SENIORS WHO CAN BE ENROLLED.

AND THEY HAVE TO START PAYING CO-PAYS.

AN ORGANIZATION IS FIGHTING THIS.

>> CONCERNS ABOUT PEOPLE WHO DO NOT KNOW THIS PROGRAM AND WILL SHOW UP AT THE HOSPITAL FOR CANCER CARE OR ACUTE CARE , THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN ELIGIBLE BUT NOW THEY WILL NOT BE.

THERE IS CONFUSION NOW.

>> Reporter: SHE SAYS THE ARGUMENT IT IS ALL ABOUT COST SAVING IS NONSENSE BECAUSE VULNERABLE PEOPLE ACCESS PREVENTATIVE CARE IS SAVING MONEY.

SHE SAYS SOMETHING ELSE IS EMPLOYED.

>> THE NARRATIVE AROUND NOT BEING ABLE TO SPEND MONEY AROUND HEALTHCARE , ESPECIALLY FOR VULNERABLE PEOPLE, DOES COME FROM A PLACE OF ANTI-IMMIGRANT SENTIMENT.

SOME PEOPLE ARE MORE WORTHY THAN OTHERS .

>> Reporter: SHE HAS LOTS OF ALLIES IN THE FIGHT, LATINO LAWMAKERS SAY ILLINOIS AND THE GOVERNOR HAVE TURNED THEIR BACKS ON PROMISES.

BUT REPUBLICANS SAY ILLINOIS CANNOT AFFORD TO TAKE ON THE COSTS.

>> WE ARE THE ONLY STATE THAT SAYS , WE WILL TAKE YOURS , SEND THEM TO US.

IT WILL BANKRUPT OUR STATE.

WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO HELP OUR MOST VULNERABLE POPULATIONS.

OUR SENIORS WILL NOT BE HELPED , OUR DISABILITY COMMUNITY WILL SUFFER.

PEOPLE WHO HAVE CANCER AND OTHER ISSUES, INSURANCE COSTS WILL GO WAY UP TO COVER THIS , THEY ARE SUFFERING.

>> Reporter: THEY SAY FOLKS MAY NOT BE ABLE TO AFFORD THE NEW CO-PAY.

HE SAYS THEY WILL STILL GO TO THE DOCTOR BUT HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS WILL HAVE TO SWALLOW THE COSTS.

>> WHAT WE ARE SEEING IS THE MOVEMENT FROM THE START OF ILLINOIS BUDGET, IT WILL BE MOVED TO HOSPITALS AND HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS WITH HUNDREDS OF MILLION DOLLARS OF UNCOMPENSATED CARE WHICH THEY WILL HAVE TO PAY MOST LIKELY BEEN COST SHIFTING TO EVERYONE WHO HAS INSURANCE.

>> YOU MENTIONED THERE HAS BEEN POLITICAL PUSHBACK , DOES THAT MAKE A DIFFERENCE ?

>> THE GOVERNMENT IS IN A TOUGH SPOT, HE ORIGINALLY TOUTED THIS PROGRAM BUT NOW THEY SAY COSTS TOP $1 MILLION AND LEGISLATORS GAVE HIM THE AUTHORITY TO MAKE THESE CUTS PART OF THE BUDGET DEAL THAT HE SIGNED A COUPLE WEEKS AGO.

THESE ORGANIZATIONS ARE ALLOWING THE GOVERNOR TO WHERE THE POLITICAL JACKET.

>> HE SAYS THE PROGRAM IS A SUCCESS AS TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WOULD NOT HAVE HAD ANY HEALTHCARE COVERAGE BUT THEY DO NOW AND IT IS A FAR CRY WHEN THE STATE WAS IN A PHYSICAL IMPLOSION A COUPLE YEARS BACK.

ADVOCATES LIKE HEALTHY ILLINOIS SAY THEY'RE