Area legislators welcome extension on state health insurance contracts

Area legislators welcomed the state's 90-day extension of health insurance contracts for state employees and retirees, while criticizing the state's still-evolving health insurance process as flawed and unacceptable.

"This affects peoples' lives," said State Rep. Bill Mitchell, R-Forsyth. "I don't think the governor understands that."

Legislators said at a press conference at Illinois State University's Alumni Center on Thursday that they were pleased with the 90-day extension but said the process was unacceptable and evolving.

The contracts affect nearly 200,000 state employees and retirees, including those of Illinois State University.

Many state employees and retirees were upset with the original insurance options because they no longer included Health Alliance and Humana, which are popular HMOs for many state employees. One new option, Blue Cross Blue Shield, offers insurance throughout Illinois but only offers an HMO option in 38 counties, not including McLean County, which concerned ISU employees and retirees.

Earlier this week, the bipartisan Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability directed the state to enter into emergency contracts with health care providers as lawsuits and legislation work their way through the system.

According to state Rep. Dan Brady, R-Bloomington, the state has reached agreements on emergency contracts with Health Alliance and HealthLinkOAP but has yet to reach agreement with Humana.

The state's enrollment deadline remains Friday, Brady said. Members of Health Alliance or HealthLink who have not submitted enrollment paperwork yet don't have to do anything because they will be automatically re-enrolled.

People who have submitted enrollment paperwork and want to change it back to their current provider or to another option need to submit new benefit enrollment paperwork to the state by Friday, Brady said.

Those who have already sent enrollment paperwork to the state and want to keep that plan do not have to do anything.

Among websites with information are www.benefitschoice.il.gov and www.state.il.us/cms.

In addition to Brady and Mitchell, legislators at the press conference were state Sen. Bill Brady, R-Bloomington; state Rep. Jason Barickman, R-Champaign; state Sen. Shane Cultra, R-Onarga; state Rep. Keith Sommer, R-Morton; and state Rep. Mike Unes, R-East Peoria.