State employees are worried about how they'll pay for everything from doctors' visits to dental care, after news this week that some insurance claims may go unpaid due to the budget impasse.
Former Lieutenant Governor Sheila Simon - who is now running for State Senate - says she's already heard from a cancer patient who doesn't know how she'll afford a six-thousand dollar a month treatment bill.
"It is literally a matter of life and death now, that this budget impasse is affecting people."
Simon says it's not fair to employees who are paying their share of health insurance premiums, and waiting for courts to order payment is bad policy.
"It's not the way we should put together the state's budget - that is a really flawed process. One of the problems is people with the least ability to organize - the least ability to hire an attorney to represent them - are the ones who are going to get totally left out."
Lieutenant Governor Evelyn Sanguinetti says she hopes for a resolution soon, but admits there are still questions that must be answered.
"You know, our courts have done a great job at being instructional so that government could continue to work while we face this budgetary impasse. So I'm hopeful that payments will be paid out in a timely fashion."
State Representative Terri Bryant says it's a difficult situation - but says the only solution is to get all parties talking about options again.
"We have to have the folks meeting who need to make these decisions and, unfortunately at this point, Speaker Madigan left the table back in June and hasn't returned to the negotiating table."
Local healthcare providers say they'll keep seeing patients - without demanding upfront payment - for as long as possible.
Heartland Regional Medical Center and Southern Illinois Healthcare representatives say they'll honor the insurance benefits employees have paid for, and patients are encouraged to call their provider if they have any questions.
