Health News
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.
Lawmakers are expected to consider legislation that would create an Illinois health insurance exchange that, if designed right, would help increase choices and lower costs for Illinoisans purchasing health insurance.
There?s no need to start from scratch though. Many states have already taken action to create health exchanges to deliver better value for consumers, and Illinois should follow their lead.
In fact, a report recently released by Illinois PIRG, "Making the Grade: A Scorecard for State Health Insurance Exchanges," closely examines the 12 states that have already created exchanges and rates them according to how accountable they will be to consumers and the public, how much they can do to lower premiums and improve the quality of care, how friendly they will be to consumers, and how stable they will be.
Not all exchanges are created equal. That?s why it?s important to evaluate the policies that will matter most to consumers, including whether the exchange will be protected from insurance industry influence, and if it will negotiate with insurers for better rates.
Among the important policies to consider to make an Illinois exchange consumer-friendly include:
Brian Imus, Director
Illinois PIRG
- 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...
- Common Questions About The Competitive Health Care Marketplace
If done well, proponents say, the Competitive Health Care Marketplace (formerly called the insurance exchange) would make it easier to buy health insurance and lead to lower prices because of increased competition. But, if designed poorly or if this process...
- 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...
- Effective Exchange Key To Lower Health Insurance Costs For Illinois Families
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Health News
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.
Lawmakers are expected to consider legislation that would create an Illinois health insurance exchange that, if designed right, would help increase choices and lower costs for Illinoisans purchasing health insurance.
There?s no need to start from scratch though. Many states have already taken action to create health exchanges to deliver better value for consumers, and Illinois should follow their lead.
In fact, a report recently released by Illinois PIRG, "Making the Grade: A Scorecard for State Health Insurance Exchanges," closely examines the 12 states that have already created exchanges and rates them according to how accountable they will be to consumers and the public, how much they can do to lower premiums and improve the quality of care, how friendly they will be to consumers, and how stable they will be.
Not all exchanges are created equal. That?s why it?s important to evaluate the policies that will matter most to consumers, including whether the exchange will be protected from insurance industry influence, and if it will negotiate with insurers for better rates.
Among the important policies to consider to make an Illinois exchange consumer-friendly include:
- Giving it the power to leverage enrollee?s buying power to negotiate with insurers for higher-value, more affordable coverage.
- Barring insurers and other industry representatives from serving on the exchange board, so it will be more accountable to the public and to consumers.
- Making sure consumers will have an easier time shopping for coverage through easy-to-use tools and comparisons between plans.
Brian Imus, Director
Illinois PIRG
- 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...
- Common Questions About The Competitive Health Care Marketplace
If done well, proponents say, the Competitive Health Care Marketplace (formerly called the insurance exchange) would make it easier to buy health insurance and lead to lower prices because of increased competition. But, if designed poorly or if this process...
- 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...
- 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....
- Health Reform Will Help Small Businesses In Illinois
Did you know that almost 8 out of 10 small businesses in Illinois with 25 or fewer workers will receive financial relief because of the Affordable Care Act? If you want to see if your small business qualifies, check out the Small Business Majority's...