HB2992 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB102 14217 BMS 19569 b

102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2021 and 2022
HB2992

Introduced 2/19/2021, by Rep. Camille Y. Lilly

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

20 ILCS 1405/1405-25
110 ILCS 330/3.5 new
210 ILCS 85/10.5 new

Amends the Department of Insurance Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Requires the Department of Insurance to conduct a study to better understand the gaps in health insurance coverage for uninsured residents, including the reasons why individuals are uninsured and whether insured individuals are insured through an employer-sponsored plan or through the Illinois health insurance marketplace. Requires the Department to submit a report of its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly 12 months after the effective date of the amendatory Act. Amends the Hospital Licensing Act and the University of Illinois Hospital Act. Provides that hospitals licensed under the Act shall provide health insurance coverage to all of their workforce.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning State government.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Department of Insurance Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois is amended by changing Section 1405-25 as follows:

(20 ILCS 1405/1405-25)

Sec. 1405-25. Uninsured Ombudsman Program.

(a) The Department of Insurance shall establish and operate an Ombudsman Program for uninsured individuals to provide assistance and education to those individuals regarding health insurance benefits options and rights under State and federal law. The program may include, but is not limited to, counseling for uninsured individuals in the discovery, evaluation, and comparison of options for obtaining health insurance coverage.

(b) The Department may recruit and train volunteers to assist in the Ombudsman Program. The volunteers may provide one-on-one counseling on health insurance availability matters and provide education to uninsured individuals through public forums.

(c) The Department may issue reasonable rules necessary to implement this Section.

(d) The Department shall conduct a study to better understand the gaps in health insurance coverage for uninsured residents in Illinois. The study shall look at reasons why an individual is uninsured, such as a part-time or full-time working status, the inability to afford coverage, and the inability to qualify for coverage under the medical assistance program established under Article V of the Illinois Public Aid Code. The study shall additionally look at those residents in Illinois who are insured and whether they are covered through an employer-sponsored plan or through the Illinois health insurance marketplace. The Department shall submit a report of the findings, as well as the Department's recommendations to reduce the number of uninsured residents in Illinois, to the General Assembly no later than 12 months after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly.

(Source: P.A. 92-331, eff. 1-1-02.)

Section 10. The University of Illinois Hospital Act is amended by adding Section 3.5 as follows:

(110 ILCS 330/3.5 new)

Sec. 3.5. University of Illinois Hospital workforce; health insurance required. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the University of Illinois Hospital shall provide health insurance coverage to all of its workforce.

Section 15. The Hospital Licensing Act is amended by adding Section 10.5 as follows:

(210 ILCS 85/10.5 new)

Sec. 10.5. Hospital workforce; health insurance required. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, each hospital licensed under this Act shall provide health insurance coverage to all of its workforce.