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Archive for the ‘Health Insurance’ Category

The latest report by the Illinois Health Care Reform Implementation Council say it’s estimated that about a million uninsured residents of Illinois may be in the position to buy health insurance coverage by 2014.

Governor Pat Quinn formed the council in July of 2010 as a way to evaluate how Illinois could be brought up to date with President Obama’s federal Affordable Care Act.

There were approximately 1.7 million residents without insurance in 2009. The Council recommended that a health insurance exchange be created online where all health plan options can be presented in one place. The Affordable Health Act has listed an exchange as being a mandatory reform. This will make it possible for families, small businesses, and individuals to compare the plans and buy them online in about 30 minutes.

The Council agreed the exchange should be operated by an independent board of directors and should be follow Open Meeting Laws and the Freedom of Information Act.

The exchange will also offer Medicaid because the government medical insurance will be offered for the first time to singe adults with low-incomes. The Council is planning on verifying eligibility for Medicaid enrollment on the website and estimates that between 500,000 and 800,000 residents will join the plan when the new law kicks in during 2014.

The Council also recommended an electronic health information exchange, which would be a network of people’s health records, as well as a working group that could attract medical workers into Illinois. It also wants to maximize non-state funding and federal grants.

The council wants to see the new law implemented efficiently and quickly so Illinois residents can access affordable health insurance as soon as possible.