Illinois Awarded More Than $5 Million to Establish Health Insurance Exchange
The Illinois Department
of Insurance (DOI) received $5.128 million in federal
funds to develop and maintain an Illinois-based
American Health Benefits Exchange (“Exchange”) -- a
transparent, centralized competitive health care
marketplace where individuals and small businesses
can purchase health insurance coverage. The federal
grant funds, issued under the federal health reform
law known as the Affordable Care Act, will help lay
the foundation for Illinois lawmakers and other
stakeholders to create an Illinois Health Benefits
Exchange that best meets the needs of Illinois
families and businesses.
“Everyone in Illinois deserves access to quality,
affordable health care,” said Governor Quinn.
“Illinois must develop a strong health insurance
marketplace to ensure that our families and employers
– especially our small businesses – have appropriate
health care options and much-needed financial
security. This federal grant will aid us in creating
a robust exchange, and developing the tools to make
it easy for everyone to use.”
The DOI is planning for an Illinois Health Benefits
Exchange that will include an easy-to-use website and
health plan comparison tool to empower individuals
and small businesses with more control, choice and
protection while shopping for and enrolling in health
insurance coverage that is tailored to their needs.
Specifically, the activities funded to achieve the
goals of the state’s exchange over the next year
include: 1) Complete the State’s efforts to conduct
comprehensive background research on the current
health insurance coverage marketplace, projections
for the future of health insurance coverage, and the
impact of establishing an health insurance
marketplace in Illinois; 2) Design the information
infrastructure that will be required by businesses
and consumers of the exchange ; 3) Hire the necessary
staff to plan and coordinate with consultants to
create the initial design features of an Exchange in
Illinois; and 4) Educate the public on an Illinois
exchange and engage stakeholders in the design of
exchange operations.
“Illinois families and small businesses continue to
struggle with the affordability and availability of
health insurance coverage, and are still faced with
options that are neither competitive nor easy to
understand,” said DOI Acting Director Jack Messmore.
“This Department intends to continue to support the
establishment of a competitive marketplace to
purchase health coverage that better protects and
empowers consumers to make the right choice for them
and their families."
The State’s grant application, which outlines in
detail its proposal to consider and plan for the
establishment of a state-based health insurance
exchange in Illinois, can be viewed at:
http://www.insurance.illinois.gov/hiric/hie.asp.
More Information
The Department’s mission is to protect consumers by
providing assistance and information, by efficiently
regulating the insurance industry’s market behavior
and financial solvency, and by fostering a
competitive insurance marketplace. The Department
assists consumers with all insurance complaints,
including health, auto, life, and homeowner.
Consumers in need of information or assistance should
visit the Department’s Web site at
www.insurance.illinois.gov or call its toll-free
hotline at (866) 445-5364.