Effective Oct. 1, Illinois became one of only a handful of states to increase the Illinois AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) income limit to 500 percent of the federal poverty level, meaning more people will have access to the program.
State Rep. Sara Feigenholtz played a large role in seeing that Illinois raised the income limit from 400 percent to 500 percent of the federal poverty level.
According to AIDS Foundation of Chicago, Illinois is the ninth state to raise the income limit above 400 percent, and only one of six states to raise it to 500 percent.
That means that the program will allow single individuals making up to $52,000, and couples making up to $70,000, to access the service.
ADAP provides life-saving HIV-related drugs and therapies to individuals.