RED BUD, Ill. – On Tuesday, State Representative David Friess (R-Red Bud) offered this statement in regards to Democrat Representative Jonathan Carroll’s proposed HB4259:
“The COVID craziness continues. This week, Rep. Jonathan Carroll (D) introduced new legislation, HB 4259, which provides that a person who is eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine and chooses not to be vaccinated must pay for any health care expenses out-of-pocket if they become hospitalized because of COVID-19 symptoms.
“This proposed legislation is a gross overreach by the State. It is not the role of the State to interject itself between its citizens and their health care providers or even their contracted healthcare insurers.
“If this bill were to become law, it would set a new precedent for future exclusions. For example, the State could deny coverage for someone who may be overweight and suffered a heart attack or stroke.
“Or perhaps the State would refuse to cover a smoker’s lung cancer treatment. It is unfathomable that Rep. Carroll would seek to open such doors. The bottom line is that healthcare choices are a personal decision to be left to citizens and their doctors.”