Health News
It's been a year since the historic vote that made the Affordable Care Act (ACA) a law, putting America on the path towards a system of quality, affordable health care for all. We have a lot to celebrate as we continue to implement and enforce our consumer protections here in Illinois.
Through the passage of health insurance reform, we have brought some of the most abusive practices of the insurance industry to an end, and instituted new rights and benefits for all. From birth to death, Americans now enjoy health care security and protection in new ways. Already in Illinois:
Now at the one-year mark, the Campaign for Better Health Care and our statewide coalition encourage our elected officials in Springfield to move forward with the implementation of the required components of this new law. Any delay will have a profound negative impact on quality of life for millions of Illinois' working families, children, seniors, individuals and small businesses.
Our State Representatives and State Senators in Springfield need to stand up for the middle class and small businesses, not the insurance industry. Did you know that the top Illinois insurance companies amassed surpluses in excess of $28.3 billion in 2010? Surplus is a company's total assets minus liabilities. In other words, it?s what's left after ALL other possible costs of doing business (including all possible future claims by policyholders, paying dividends to shareholders, etc) are accounted for. Their surpluses increased by an additional $2.5 billion from 2009, even in the current economic conditions we face.
We need to implement and strengthen the health care law at the state level in a few ways. First, let?s institute fair rate review laws as outlined in Representative Greg Harris?s proposal. Rate review means that insurance companies will have to justify their requests for rate increases to the state Department of Insurance and cannot raise your rates unless their request passes this review. Laws similar to this exist in 30 states, but Illinois currently has no oversight mechanism in place.
Rate review increases transparency in the process - insurance companies will have to prove the need to charge their customers more. With more information about the rationale for rate hikes, consumers will be better prepared to make an informed decision about whether or not to purchase insurance from a specific company. This will stimulate positive competition in the health insurance marketplace, and benefit consumers by lowering costs.
Second, the Illinois General Assembly needs to begin developing a competitive health insurance marketplace, commonly known as an insurance health exchange. St. Senator Dave Koehler?s proposal begins setting up the competitive health marketplace for Illinois.
The marketplace is voluntary ? if you like the insurance you have, you can keep it and not use the marketplace. However, the marketplace is always available in case you want or need it. This approach will give consumers greater control, more choice, improve quality, increase transparency, and create much needed competition in the insurance marketplace.
On this milestone anniversary of new freedom and protection for American health insurance consumers, let's work together to make Illinois' health care laws work for us, not for the obscene and greedy surpluses of insurance companies.
Jim Duffett
Executive Director, Campaign for Better Health Care
- Illinois Senate Takes First Major Step To Passing A State Based Health Insurance Marketplace
Springfield - The State Senate Insurance Committee passed HB3227, formerly SB34, today, a major step in establishing a health insurance marketplace that helps small businesses and individuals in Illinois. State Senator David Koehler (D-46 Peoria), chief...
- It?s Finally Happening
A legislative taskforce is working right now on ways to increase competition in the Illinois health insurance marketplace, and they?ll make recommendations by September 30th. Insurance lobbyists have come to Springfield to prevent anything that might...
- Illinois Could Create A Whole New Competitive Health Care Marketplace
Earlier this week, a new report was released that highlights how Illinois policy makers can address rising health care costs by implementing an effective health insurance exchange. The federal reform law requires states to create health insurance...
- Action Alert: Tell Senator Cullerton To Stand Up For Working Families & Small Businesses In Illinois!
1. Call IL Senate President Cullerton TODAY! Toll-free number to the Capitol: 1.888.616.3322 Springfield Office: 217.782.2728 Chicago District Office: 773.883.0770 Tell him: OPPOSE the insurance industry supported health exchange bill - SUPPORT Passage...
- Illinois Needs A Competitive Health Insurance Marketplace - Sb 1729 Will Establish One
The Illinois General Assembly has a lot of contentious, difficult, and time-consuming items on its 2011 agenda?the state budget, pensions, workers compensation to name a few. But one item?passage of legislation establishing a competitive marketplace for...
Health News
America?s Health Care Law: Providing Security and Opportunity for All
It's been a year since the historic vote that made the Affordable Care Act (ACA) a law, putting America on the path towards a system of quality, affordable health care for all. We have a lot to celebrate as we continue to implement and enforce our consumer protections here in Illinois.
Through the passage of health insurance reform, we have brought some of the most abusive practices of the insurance industry to an end, and instituted new rights and benefits for all. From birth to death, Americans now enjoy health care security and protection in new ways. Already in Illinois:
- 47,200 young adults in Illinois are now eligible to stay on their parents? coverage through age 26
- Tens of thousands of small businesses receive tax credits that help them offer their employees coverage
- 7.5 million people in our state no longer need to worry about hitting a lifetime cap on benefits because of the ACA
- 612,000 Illinoisans will not have their insurance coverage rescinded when they get sick and need it most
- 1.8 million seniors are now eligible for free wellness care, and 109,421 of them received help in meeting the costs of their prescription drugs while in the Medicare Part D coverage gap
Now at the one-year mark, the Campaign for Better Health Care and our statewide coalition encourage our elected officials in Springfield to move forward with the implementation of the required components of this new law. Any delay will have a profound negative impact on quality of life for millions of Illinois' working families, children, seniors, individuals and small businesses.
Our State Representatives and State Senators in Springfield need to stand up for the middle class and small businesses, not the insurance industry. Did you know that the top Illinois insurance companies amassed surpluses in excess of $28.3 billion in 2010? Surplus is a company's total assets minus liabilities. In other words, it?s what's left after ALL other possible costs of doing business (including all possible future claims by policyholders, paying dividends to shareholders, etc) are accounted for. Their surpluses increased by an additional $2.5 billion from 2009, even in the current economic conditions we face.
We need to implement and strengthen the health care law at the state level in a few ways. First, let?s institute fair rate review laws as outlined in Representative Greg Harris?s proposal. Rate review means that insurance companies will have to justify their requests for rate increases to the state Department of Insurance and cannot raise your rates unless their request passes this review. Laws similar to this exist in 30 states, but Illinois currently has no oversight mechanism in place.
Rate review increases transparency in the process - insurance companies will have to prove the need to charge their customers more. With more information about the rationale for rate hikes, consumers will be better prepared to make an informed decision about whether or not to purchase insurance from a specific company. This will stimulate positive competition in the health insurance marketplace, and benefit consumers by lowering costs.
Second, the Illinois General Assembly needs to begin developing a competitive health insurance marketplace, commonly known as an insurance health exchange. St. Senator Dave Koehler?s proposal begins setting up the competitive health marketplace for Illinois.
The marketplace is voluntary ? if you like the insurance you have, you can keep it and not use the marketplace. However, the marketplace is always available in case you want or need it. This approach will give consumers greater control, more choice, improve quality, increase transparency, and create much needed competition in the insurance marketplace.
On this milestone anniversary of new freedom and protection for American health insurance consumers, let's work together to make Illinois' health care laws work for us, not for the obscene and greedy surpluses of insurance companies.
Jim Duffett
Executive Director, Campaign for Better Health Care
- Illinois Senate Takes First Major Step To Passing A State Based Health Insurance Marketplace
Springfield - The State Senate Insurance Committee passed HB3227, formerly SB34, today, a major step in establishing a health insurance marketplace that helps small businesses and individuals in Illinois. State Senator David Koehler (D-46 Peoria), chief...
- It?s Finally Happening
A legislative taskforce is working right now on ways to increase competition in the Illinois health insurance marketplace, and they?ll make recommendations by September 30th. Insurance lobbyists have come to Springfield to prevent anything that might...
- Illinois Could Create A Whole New Competitive Health Care Marketplace
Earlier this week, a new report was released that highlights how Illinois policy makers can address rising health care costs by implementing an effective health insurance exchange. The federal reform law requires states to create health insurance...
- Action Alert: Tell Senator Cullerton To Stand Up For Working Families & Small Businesses In Illinois!
1. Call IL Senate President Cullerton TODAY! Toll-free number to the Capitol: 1.888.616.3322 Springfield Office: 217.782.2728 Chicago District Office: 773.883.0770 Tell him: OPPOSE the insurance industry supported health exchange bill - SUPPORT Passage...
- Illinois Needs A Competitive Health Insurance Marketplace - Sb 1729 Will Establish One
The Illinois General Assembly has a lot of contentious, difficult, and time-consuming items on its 2011 agenda?the state budget, pensions, workers compensation to name a few. But one item?passage of legislation establishing a competitive marketplace for...