Health News
It?s hard not to notice the out-of-control health insurance cost increases in recent years. Three out of every four individual-market policyholders saw a premium increase from early 2009 to early 2010. Small businesses are particularly hard hit. They now pay 18% more for insurance than their larger competitors and have seen repeated double digit premium increases.
But what can Illinois policymakers do to help Illinois families? Turns out, there?s a lot they can do.
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) allows states to create a health insurance exchange for individuals and small businesses. Much the way a large employer negotiates insurance rates for their employees, an exchange would allow small businesses and individuals the ability to pool their buying power and negotiate a better as well, saving Illinois families billions of dollars.
An exchange works to lower costs because it increases competition and improves the choices customers have in the state?s insurance market. But it only works if the exchange is accountable to the public, and the individual and small business consumers it?s designed to serve, not the special interests.
As policy makers consider an exchange program over the coming months, the consumer advocacy group Illinois PIRG will be highlighting many of the important policy questions in a series of policy briefs.
The first in the series of seven details steps policy-makers can take to ensure that the exchange program is accountable to the public and operates in the best interests of consumers and businesses.
Take a look by going here.
Brian Imus
Illinois PIRG
- 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...
- Making The Grade: A Scorecard For State Health Insurance Exchanges
According to the Illinois Department of Insurance, health insurance premiums have risen on average 181 percent since 2005. This could be the week action is taken in Illinois to fix our health insurance marketplace for Illinois families and small businesses....
- 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...
- 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...
- To Repeal Or Not To Repeal
While Congress has spent time debating repeal of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), many policymakers in the states are focused on moving forward and evaluating how best to take advantage of the ACA to lower health care costs. In Illinois, Governor Quinn?s...
Health News
Effective Exchange Key to Lower Health Insurance Costs for Illinois Families
It?s hard not to notice the out-of-control health insurance cost increases in recent years. Three out of every four individual-market policyholders saw a premium increase from early 2009 to early 2010. Small businesses are particularly hard hit. They now pay 18% more for insurance than their larger competitors and have seen repeated double digit premium increases.
But what can Illinois policymakers do to help Illinois families? Turns out, there?s a lot they can do.
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) allows states to create a health insurance exchange for individuals and small businesses. Much the way a large employer negotiates insurance rates for their employees, an exchange would allow small businesses and individuals the ability to pool their buying power and negotiate a better as well, saving Illinois families billions of dollars.
An exchange works to lower costs because it increases competition and improves the choices customers have in the state?s insurance market. But it only works if the exchange is accountable to the public, and the individual and small business consumers it?s designed to serve, not the special interests.
As policy makers consider an exchange program over the coming months, the consumer advocacy group Illinois PIRG will be highlighting many of the important policy questions in a series of policy briefs.
The first in the series of seven details steps policy-makers can take to ensure that the exchange program is accountable to the public and operates in the best interests of consumers and businesses.
Take a look by going here.
Brian Imus
Illinois PIRG
- 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...
- Making The Grade: A Scorecard For State Health Insurance Exchanges
According to the Illinois Department of Insurance, health insurance premiums have risen on average 181 percent since 2005. This could be the week action is taken in Illinois to fix our health insurance marketplace for Illinois families and small businesses....
- 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...
- 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...
- To Repeal Or Not To Repeal
While Congress has spent time debating repeal of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), many policymakers in the states are focused on moving forward and evaluating how best to take advantage of the ACA to lower health care costs. In Illinois, Governor Quinn?s...