Cook County reaches milestone in Medicaid sign-ups

CHICAGO — The head of Cook County's health care system says the effort to provide insurance coverage to low-income adults in the county's early expansion of Medicaid has reached a milestone.

Dr. Ram Raju announced Friday that the county health system has submitted more than 125,000 applications to the state for approval since February.

The county has been expanding Medicaid a year ahead of the expansion authorized by the nation's new health care law. The county received a special waiver to do so from the federal government.

Raju says the Affordable Care Act is working "right here, right now" in Cook County.

Officials say the expansion will generate $468 million next year for the county's health programs, reducing the burden on Cook County taxpayers.