Chicago – Beginning this month, more unemployed Illinoisans in need of health insurance may be eligible for financial help to purchase plans on the ACA Marketplace. Consumers who received unemployment compensation for any week beginning in 2021 (or are approved to receive benefits) may find even lower cost plans and reduce out-of-pocket health insurance expenses, according to the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
The American Rescue Plan, signed by President Biden earlier this year, offers increased savings for many consumers who buy health insurance directly through the ACA Marketplace. So, Illinoisans enrolling in ACA Marketplace coverage through getcoveredillinois.gov and HealthCare.gov are eligible to receive increased tax credits to reduce their insurance premiums.
Press Release
Cancellation Notice
State of Illinois, Department of Insurance, Department of Healthcare and Family Services, of the Public Act 100-1024 Working Group regarding Mental Health Parity. Notice is hereby given that that meeting of the Working Group regarding Mental Health Parity scheduled for April 23, 2021, from 11:00 AM- 12:00 PM, Central Time, via Webex conference call, for the purpose of discussing issues related to Mental Health Parity is cancelled.
SPRINGFIELD –As Illinoisans welcome April showers and May flowers, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR), Illinois Department of Insurance (IDOI), Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) and local emergency management agencies throughout Illinois are reminding Illinoisans to invest in flood insurance to protect their homes and businesses from flooding emergencies.
Press Release
Chicago - Illinoisans are signing up for ACA Health Insurance Marketplace plans at nearly twice the rate of this time last year, according to federal CMS numbers released this week. Nearly 15,000 Illinois consumers purchased and enrolled in health plans since February, when President Biden signed an executive order to open the ACA Marketplace for a new Special Enrollment in response to COVID-19. Unlike other SEPs, consumers are not required to provide proof of a qualifying life event, such as getting married, having a baby, or losing job-based coverage to enroll.
The SEP in response to COVID-19 runs through August 15, 2021. Since the federal marketplace opened, from February 15 - March 31, 2021, the number of new plan selections in Illinois is 14,496 compared to 7,757 during the same period in 2020 and 7,459 in 2019.
Press Release
Chicago - Eligible Illinoisans now have more time to sign up for ACA Health Insurance Marketplace plans. President Biden has extended the deadline for the Special Enrollment Period in Response to COVID-19 from May 15th to August 15th.
Press Release
February 15th is the start of the new 2021 Special Enrollment Period
Chicago –Governor JB Pritzker is encouraging eligible Illinoisans who do not have health insurance to enroll in an ACA Health Insurance Marketplace plan beginning February 15th. An executive order signed by President Biden allows states, including Illinois, which utilize the federal marketplace to reopen this month to help more people purchase health insurance coverage. The 2021 Special Enrollment Period (SEP) in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic runs through May 15, 2021.
Press Release
Building on a strong team of diverse experts in their fields, Governor JB Pritzker announced the following appointment in his administration:
Chicago – Dana Popish Severinghaus will serve as Director of the Illinois Department of Insurance (IDOI).* Popish Severinghaus has extensive legal, policy, government relations and insurance industry-related experience, Popish Severinghaus was formerly Legislative and Regulatory Counsel at Allstate Insurance Company where she advised Allstate and its subsidiaries on legal, regulatory and legislative matters across the Midwest. Before that, she served as Senior Policy Advisor at the State of Illinois in Central Management Services where she saw oversaw the Bureau of Benefits. Prior to that, Popish Severinghaus served as the Director of Government Relations for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois. Popish Severinghaus is a Member of the Association of Corporate Counsel, Board Member of the Illinois Insurance Guaranty Fund, Secretary of the Illinois Insurance Association, Advisory Board Member and Co-Chair of Government Relations Advisory Council for the Chicago Children's Advocacy Center, Women in Law Mentor at Chicago Kent College of Law and Auxiliary Board Member of ChildServ. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies and Journalism & Mass Communications from the University of Iowa and Juris Doctor from Chicago Kent College of Law.
* Appointments pending confirmation by the Illinois Senate.
Business Interruption Insurance Task Force Report to the Governor and General Assembly December 2020
Final Full Report | Appendix | Meeting Minutes (12-14-2020) | Public Notice
ACA Marketplace Open Enrollment Ends December 15th
Chicago – Tomorrow is the last day to enroll in a plan on the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Health Insurance Marketplace during Open Enrollment. The Illinois Department of Insurance (IDOI) encourages consumers to purchase a plan before the December 15th deadline to have health coverage beginning January 2021. There are 179 plans available from eight insurance carriers, and in most counties, consumers have more than one carrier to choose from.
IDOI Chief Deputy Director Shannon Whalen to Serve as Interim Acting Director
Chicago – Robert Muriel, Director of the Illinois Department of Insurance, announced today that he’ll leave his position on December 11, 2020. Muriel was appointed to the position by Governor J.B. Pritzker in March 2019.
Press ReleaseChicago – The Illinois Department of Insurance (IDOI) fined Continental Indemnity Company and Applied Underwriters, Inc. for overcharging some Illinois small businesses for workers’ compensation insurance. The Department conducted a market conduct examination in 2019 and found that the companies marketed and sold unapproved workers’ compensation policies, packaged with side agreements, in violation of the law.
Press Release
The Market Conduct Exam for Continental Indemnity Company can be found here.
Illinois consumers can go to getcoveredillinois.gov for enrollment and financial help
Chicago - Illinoisans can shop for health insurance on the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Health Insurance Marketplace. Open Enrollment began Sunday, November 1 and runs through December 15, 2020. The Illinois Department of Insurance (IDOI) recommends consumers begin their search at getcoveredillinois.gov to find accurate information to help compare health plans, get free enrollment help and even financial assistance (if they qualify).
Press Release
Eight health insurance companies are offering Illinois consumers health plans this year with new carriers joining the ACA Marketplace
Chicago - The Illinois Department of Insurance (IDOI) welcomes three new carriers as it releases health insurance rates for the Illinois Exchange 2021 Plan Year. The Illinois On-Exchange marketplace now has a total of eight carriers offering health insurance plans, including newcomers Bright Health Insurance Company of Illinois, MercyCare HMO, Inc. and SSM Health Plan. Continuing last year's downward trend, most Illinoisans will again see a decrease in premiums this year and rating areas remain the same.
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The Illinois Department of Insurance can help you find missing life insurance policies and collect the money you're owed from the millions of dollars in benefits that go unclaimed every year. This year, IDOI has already helped consumers find and collect more than $5 million from lost or unclaimed life insurance policies.
Press Release
State of Illinois, Department of Insurance, 2020 Meetings of the Public Act 101-0640. Working Group regarding the Business Interruption Insurance Task Force.
Notice is hereby given that the 2020 meetings of the Working Group regarding the Business Interruption Insurance Task Force will be held on Tuesday, September 1, 2020 from 1:00 PM-2:00 PM and Monday, September 14, 2020 from 10:00 AM- 11:00 AM; Central Time, via WebEx conference calls (until further notice is given) for the purpose to study the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on businesses and the need for changes to business interruption insurance policies, including recommendations for legislation.
(Chicago) – The Illinois Department of Insurance (IDOI) announced today fines totaling over $2 million for five major health insurance companies found to be in violation of the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA).
“These fines are a reminder to health insurance companies that my administration is committed to providing the best standard of care for Illinoisans and will protect their right to equitable treatment from health insurance providers,” said Governor Pritzker. “Seeking treatment for mental health or a substance use disorder is a brave step that should not be met by unnecessary roadblocks and hurdles. We will continue to lead by example and help move the country forward in achieving mental health and substance use disorder parity.”
Press Release
(Chicago) Today, the State of Illinois released guidance that affirms Illinois nondiscrimination protections on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.
“From day one, my administration has sought to protect LGBTQ+ individuals, including by expanding HIV preventative care and treatment, funding gender-affirming surgeries, fostering affirming and inclusive classrooms in which LGBTQ+ students are able to thrive, and ensuring LGBTQ+ students see themselves reflected in the curriculum,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “That work becomes even more urgent when the federal government hands down policy decisions that undermine people’s basic humanity. As we live through exceedingly difficult times, we must unite against all forms of hate and show empathy and compassion for one another — especially as we fight for full equality and justice for all of our country’s residents.”
Press Release
To assist Illinois employers with compliance, the Illinois Department of Human Rights (IDHR),the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS), and the Illinois Department of Insurance (IDOI) developed legal guidance that highlights the existing state-mandated nondiscrimination protections and reminds the Illinois healthcare community of their ongoing obligations to deliver healthcare services in a non-discriminatory manner.