Thousands Without Health Insurance in the Suburbs

Thousands of uninsured suburban residents will soon be eligible to sign up for health benefits under the Affordable Care Act when it becomes available on Oct. 1, according to a Daily Herald article. 

New census data shows that 9 percent of McHenry County residents are uninsured compared to 16.3 percent of Cook County residents and 11 percent of Lake County residents. In Algonquin and Lake in the Hills, the percentage of uninsured is even lower and accounts for 7.2 percent of Algonquin residents and 8.8 percent of Lake in the Hills residents, according to 2012 census data. 

Comparably speaking, the Aurora area has one of the highest percentage of unemployed in the state with 23.3 percent, according to the Daily Herald.  Statewide, 12.8 percent of residents are without health insurance, according to 2012 census data. 

The Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, requires uninsured residents to get health insurance or pay a penalty, according to the Daily Herald.