Older people will soon receive health coverage in Illinois regardless of immigration status under first-in-nation program: ‘It’s a relief’
When Ananias Ocampo, 76, learned that in December he’ll finally have access to health care coverage even though he lacks legal immigration status, he smiled and managed to get up from the chair next to his ice cream cart despite his trembling and extreme knee pain because of arthritis.
![a person standing in front of a store: Ananias Ocampo, 76, pushes his cart along 18th Street to Paulina Street to sell ice cream in Chicago's Pilsen neighborhood on Sept. 25, 2020. Ocampo has arthritis, diabetes and osteoarthritis.](https://www.msn.com/{"default":{"load":"default","w":"80","h":"53","src":"//img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/BB19IhJu.img?h=533&w=799&m=6&q=60&o=f&l=f"},"size3column":{"load":"default","w":"62","h":"42","src":"//img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/BB19IhJu.img?h=416&w=624&m=6&q=60&o=f&l=f"},"size2column":{"load":"default","w":"62","h":"42","src":"//img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/BB19IhJu.img?h=416&w=624&m=6&q=60&o=f&l=f"}})
© Zbigniew Bzdak / Chicago Tribune/Chicago Tribune/TNS
Ananias Ocampo, 76, pushes his cart along 18th Street to Paulina Street to sell ice cream in Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood on Sept. 25, 2020. Ocampo has arthritis, diabetes and osteoarthritis.
![Paletero Ananias Ocampo, 76, left, sells ice cream to Ray Hernandez near 18th and Paulina streets in Chicago on Sept. 25, 2020. Ocampo suffers from severe arthritis, diabetes and osteoarthritis.](https://www.msn.com/{"default":{"load":"default","w":"80","h":"53","src":"//img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/BB19HY0h.img?h=533&w=799&m=6&q=60&o=f&l=f"},"size3column":{"load":"default","w":"62","h":"42","src":"//img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/BB19HY0h.img?h=416&w=624&m=6&q=60&o=f&l=f"},"size2column":{"load":"default","w":"62","h":"42","src":"//img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/BB19HY0h.img?h=416&w=624&m=6&q=60&o=f&l=f"}})
© Zbigniew Bzdak / Chicago Tribune/Chicago Tribune/TNS
Paletero Ananias Ocampo, 76, left, sells ice cream to Ray Hernandez near 18th and Paulina streets in Chicago on Sept. 25, 2020. Ocampo suffers from severe arthritis, diabetes and osteoarthritis.
He could not believe it.
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“Enserio, no lo puedo creer, que alivio!” cried out Ocampo while selling ice cream on the corner of 18th and