SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WICS) —

UPDATE:

On Thursday, Dec. 9, Rep. Carroll announced he would no longer be pursuing the bill, citing violent threats and feedback.

ORIGINAL:

COVID-19 has taken over much of our lives.

And whether it be Alpha, Beta, Delta, or the newly discovered Omicron variants, the advice from health experts locally and around the world is to get vaccinated and boosted.

But a new bill filed by Rep. Jonathan Carroll, D-Northbrook, in the Illinois House would put financial hurdles in front of those choosing to stay unvaccinated.

The proposed bill filed Monday (HB4259) would make it so if you get COVID-19 and you are unvaccinated, but you are eligible for the vaccine, you have to pay out of pocket for all COVID-19 related expenses.

According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, more than a third of eligible Illinoisans are not fully vaccinated.

"Able-bodied people who choose not to get the vaccine would be responsible for his or her own healthcare costs."

Carroll was asked if the bill affected people who are insured fully. He said, "Well if you don't have insurance you are in that position anyways but yeah if you have insurance that is what it's saying."

Carroll said it is a pandemic of the unvaccinated right now and while this is not an attempt to coax people into getting an unwanted shot, it is time for people to hop on board the vaccine train.

"It's a personal choice that you're making," Carroll said. "You know, it is readily available and the information shows that it's working."

However, President of the Sangamon County Board of Health and cardiologist Brian Miller said laws like this are unacceptable.

Miller says it is like telling a smoker with insurance that if they get lung cancer or something like that that they are on their own for those costs.

"That's not right," Dr. Miller said. "Let's say that somebody gets influenza and hasn't had their flu shot, are you not going to pay for them either? It's discriminatory. It's draconian. And it's unprecedented."

Miller said the costs of COVID-19 could cripple people in medical debt.

"If you're in the intensive care unit for four or five days your bill is well over $100,000," Miller said. "So, it is going to devastate pretty much everyone unless they are extraordinarily wealthy."

Carroll said the bill would not affect those with medical or religious exemptions to the vaccine.

But, after the General Assembly made changes to the healthcare right of conscience act during the veto session, those are now harder to attain.

Carroll said this bill is in its beginning stages and is prepared to make changes as it works through the legislative process. However, he said his Democratic colleagues have been supportive of the legislation thus far.

To get passed it would need to get through the committee, the House, and the Senate before reaching the governor's desk.