SB0475 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB094 07024 LJB 37163 b

94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2005 and 2006
SB0475

Introduced 2/16/2005, by Sen. Gary Forby

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

215 ILCS 105/4	from Ch. 73, par. 1304
215 ILCS 105/7	from Ch. 73, par. 1307
215 ILCS 105/15

Amends the Comprehensive Health Insurance Plan Act. Allows the Illinois Comprehensive Health Insurance Board to establish conditions and procedures under which the Comprehensive Health Insurance Plan may discount or subsidize premiums for unemployed or retired coal miners who are federally eligible and whose employer-provided health insurance coverage was terminated on September 28, 2004, and to accept funds appropriated for this purpose. Allows unemployed or retired coal miners who are federally eligible and whose employer-provided health insurance coverage was terminated on September 28, 2004 to be eligible for the Plan even though their premiums may be discounted or subsidized. Requires federally eligible unemployed or retired coal miners whose employer-provided health insurance coverage was terminated on September 28, 2004 to pay the discounted or subsidized premiums established by the Board. Effective immediately.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning insurance.

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

Section 5. The Comprehensive Health Insurance Plan Act is amended by changing Sections 4, 7, and 15 as follows:

(215 ILCS 105/4) (from Ch. 73, par. 1304)

Sec. 4. Powers and authority of the board. The board shall have the general powers and authority granted under the laws of this State to insurance companies licensed to transact health and accident insurance and in addition thereto, the specific authority to:

a. Enter into contracts as are necessary or proper to carry out the provisions and purposes of this Act, including the authority, with the approval of the Director, to enter into contracts with similar plans of other states for the joint performance of common administrative functions, or with persons or other organizations for the performance of administrative functions including, without limitation, utilization review and quality assurance programs, or with health maintenance organizations or preferred provider organizations for the provision of health care services.

b. Sue or be sued, including taking any legal actions necessary or proper.

c. Take such legal action as necessary to:

(1) avoid the payment of improper claims against the plan or the coverage provided by or through the plan;

(2) to recover any amounts erroneously or improperly paid by the plan;

(3) to recover any amounts paid by the plan as a result of a mistake of fact or law; or

(4) to recover or collect any other amounts, including assessments, that are due or owed the Plan or have been billed on its or the Plan's behalf.

d. Establish appropriate rates, rate schedules, rate adjustments, expense allowances, agents' referral fees, claim reserves, and formulas and any other actuarial function appropriate to the operation of the plan. Rates and rate schedules may be adjusted for appropriate risk factors such as age and area variation in claim costs and shall take into consideration appropriate risk factors in accordance with established actuarial and underwriting practices.

e. Issue policies of insurance in accordance with the requirements of this Act.

f. Appoint appropriate legal, actuarial and other committees as necessary to provide technical assistance in the operation of the plan, policy and other contract design, and any other function within the authority of the plan.

g. Borrow money to effect the purposes of the Illinois Comprehensive Health Insurance Plan. Any notes or other evidence of indebtedness of the plan not in default shall be legal investments for insurers and may be carried as admitted assets.

h. Establish rules, conditions and procedures for reinsuring risks under this Act.

i. Employ and fix the compensation of employees. Such employees may be paid on a warrant issued by the State Treasurer pursuant to a payroll voucher certified by the Board and drawn by the Comptroller against appropriations or trust funds held by the State Treasurer.

j. Enter into intergovernmental cooperation agreements with other agencies or entities of State government for the purpose of sharing the cost of providing health care services that are otherwise authorized by this Act for children who are both plan participants and eligible for financial assistance from the Division of Specialized Care for Children of the University of Illinois.

k. Establish conditions and procedures under which the plan may, if funds permit, discount or subsidize premium rates that are paid directly by senior citizens, as defined by the Board, by unemployed or retired coal miners who are federally eligible and whose employer-provided health insurance coverage was terminated on September 28, 2004, and by other plan participants, who are retired or unemployed and meet other qualifications.

l. Establish and maintain the Plan Fund authorized in Section 3 of this Act, which shall be divided into separate accounts, as follows:

(1) accounts to fund the administrative, claim, and other expenses of the Plan associated with eligible persons who qualify for Plan coverage under Section 7 of this Act, which shall consist of:

(A) premiums paid on behalf of covered persons;

(B) appropriated funds and other revenues collected or received by the Board;

(C) reserves for future losses maintained by the Board; and

(D) interest earnings from investment of the funds in the Plan Fund or any of its accounts other than the funds in the account established under item 2 of this subsection;

(2) an account, to be denominated the federally eligible individuals account, to fund the administrative, claim, and other expenses of the Plan associated with federally eligible individuals who qualify for Plan coverage under Section 15 of this Act, which shall consist of:

(A) premiums paid on behalf of covered persons;

(B) assessments and other revenues collected or received by the Board;

(C) reserves for future losses maintained by the Board; and

(D) interest earnings from investment of the federally eligible individuals account funds; and

(E) grants provided pursuant to the federal Trade Act of 2002; and

(3) such other accounts as may be appropriate.

m. Charge and collect assessments paid by insurers pursuant to Section 12 of this Act and recover any assessments for, on behalf of, or against those insurers.

n. Accept funds appropriated by law for the sole purpose of, in accordance with subsection k of this Section, discounting or subsidizing premium rates paid directly by unemployed or retired coal miners who are federally eligible individuals and whose employer-provided health insurance coverage was terminated on September 28, 2004.

(Source: P.A. 93-33, eff. 6-23-03; 93-34, eff. 6-23-03.)

(215 ILCS 105/7) (from Ch. 73, par. 1307)

Sec. 7. Eligibility.

a. Except as provided in subsection (e) of this Section or in Section 15 of this Act, any person who is either a citizen of the United States or an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence and who has been for a period of at least 180 days and continues to be a resident of this State shall be eligible for Plan coverage under this Section if evidence is provided of:

(1) A notice of rejection or refusal to issue substantially similar individual health insurance coverage for health reasons by a health insurance issuer; or

(2) A refusal by a health insurance issuer to issue individual health insurance coverage except at a rate exceeding the applicable Plan rate for which the person is responsible.

A rejection or refusal by a group health plan or health insurance issuer offering only stop-loss or excess of loss insurance or contracts, agreements, or other arrangements for reinsurance coverage with respect to the applicant shall not be sufficient evidence under this subsection.

b. The board shall promulgate a list of medical or health conditions for which a person who is either a citizen of the United States or an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence and a resident of this State would be eligible for Plan coverage without applying for health insurance coverage pursuant to subsection a. of this Section. Persons who can demonstrate the existence or history of any medical or health conditions on the list promulgated by the board shall not be required to provide the evidence specified in subsection a. of this Section. The list shall be effective on the first day of the operation of the Plan and may be amended from time to time as appropriate.

c. Family members of the same household who each are covered persons are eligible for optional family coverage under the Plan.

d. For persons qualifying for coverage in accordance with Section 7 of this Act, the board shall, if it determines that such appropriations as are made pursuant to Section 12 of this Act are insufficient to allow the board to accept all of the eligible persons which it projects will apply for enrollment under the Plan, limit or close enrollment to ensure that the Plan is not over-subscribed and that it has sufficient resources to meet its obligations to existing enrollees. The board shall not limit or close enrollment for federally eligible individuals.

e. A person shall not be eligible for coverage under the Plan if:

(1) He or she has or obtains other coverage under a group health plan or health insurance coverage substantially similar to or better than a Plan policy as an insured or covered dependent or would be eligible to have that coverage if he or she elected to obtain it. Persons otherwise eligible for Plan coverage may, however, solely for the purpose of having coverage for a pre-existing condition, maintain other coverage only while satisfying any pre-existing condition waiting period under a Plan policy or a subsequent replacement policy of a Plan policy.

(1.1) His or her prior coverage under a group health plan or health insurance coverage, provided or arranged by an employer of more than 10 employees was discontinued for any reason without the entire group or plan being discontinued and not replaced, provided he or she remains an employee, or dependent thereof, of the same employer.

(2) He or she is a recipient of or is approved to receive medical assistance, except that a person may continue to receive medical assistance through the medical assistance no grant program, but only while satisfying the requirements for a preexisting condition under Section 8, subsection f. of this Act. Payment of premiums pursuant to this Act shall be allocable to the person's spenddown for purposes of the medical assistance no grant program, but that person shall not be eligible for any Plan benefits while that person remains eligible for medical assistance. If the person continues to receive or be approved to receive medical assistance through the medical assistance no grant program at or after the time that requirements for a preexisting condition are satisfied, the person shall not be eligible for coverage under the Plan. In that circumstance, coverage under the plan shall terminate as of the expiration of the preexisting condition limitation period. Under all other circumstances, coverage under the Plan shall automatically terminate as of the effective date of any medical assistance.

(3) Except as provided in Section 15, the person has previously participated in the Plan and voluntarily terminated Plan coverage, unless 12 months have elapsed since the person's latest voluntary termination of coverage.

(4) The person fails to pay the required premium under the covered person's terms of enrollment and participation, in which event the liability of the Plan shall be limited to benefits incurred under the Plan for the time period for which premiums had been paid and the covered person remained eligible for Plan coverage.

(5) The Plan has paid a total of $1,000,000 in benefits on behalf of the covered person.

(6) The person is a resident of a public institution.

(7) The person's premium is paid for or reimbursed under any government sponsored program or by any government agency or health care provider, except as an otherwise qualifying full-time employee, or dependent of such employee, of a government agency or health care provider, or, except when a person's premium is paid by the U.S. Treasury Department pursuant to the federal Trade Act of 2002, or except when the premium rate of an unemployed or retired coal miner who is a federally eligible individual whose employer-provided health insurance coverage was terminated on September 28, 2004 is discounted or subsidized with funds appropriated by law.

(8) The person has or later receives other benefits or funds from any settlement, judgement, or award resulting from any accident or injury, regardless of the date of the accident or injury, or any other circumstances creating a legal liability for damages due that person by a third party, whether the settlement, judgment, or award is in the form of a contract, agreement, or trust on behalf of a minor or otherwise and whether the settlement, judgment, or award is payable to the person, his or her dependent, estate, personal representative, or guardian in a lump sum or over time, so long as there continues to be benefits or assets remaining from those sources in an amount in excess of $100,000.

(9) Within the 5 years prior to the date a person's Plan application is received by the Board, the person's coverage under any health care benefit program as defined in 18 U.S.C. 24, including any public or private plan or contract under which any medical benefit, item, or service is provided, was terminated as a result of any act or practice that constitutes fraud under State or federal law or as a result of an intentional misrepresentation of material fact; or if that person knowingly and willfully obtained or attempted to obtain, or fraudulently aided or attempted to aid any other person in obtaining, any coverage or benefits under the Plan to which that person was not entitled.

f. The board or the administrator shall require verification of residency and may require any additional information or documentation, or statements under oath, when necessary to determine residency upon initial application and for the entire term of the policy.

g. Coverage shall cease (i) on the date a person is no longer a resident of Illinois, (ii) on the date a person requests coverage to end, (iii) upon the death of the covered person, (iv) on the date State law requires cancellation of the policy, or (v) at the Plan's option, 30 days after the Plan makes any inquiry concerning a person's eligibility or place of residence to which the person does not reply.

h. Except under the conditions set forth in subsection g of this Section, the coverage of any person who ceases to meet the eligibility requirements of this Section shall be terminated at the end of the current policy period for which the necessary premiums have been paid.

(Source: P.A. 93-33, eff. 6-23-03; 93-34, eff. 6-23-03.)

(215 ILCS 105/15)

Sec. 15. Alternative portable coverage for federally eligible individuals.

(a) Notwithstanding the requirements of subsection a. of Section 7 and except as otherwise provided in this Section, any federally eligible individual for whom a Plan application, and such enclosures and supporting documentation as the Board may require, is received by the Board within 90 days after the termination of prior creditable coverage shall qualify to enroll in the Plan under the portability provisions of this Section.

A federally eligible person who has been certified as eligible pursuant to the federal Trade Act of 2002 and whose Plan application and enclosures and supporting documentation as the Board may require is received by the Board within 63 days after the termination of previous creditable coverage shall qualify to enroll in the Plan under the portability provisions of this Section.

(b) Any federally eligible individual seeking Plan coverage under this Section must submit with his or her application evidence, including acceptable written certification of previous creditable coverage, that will establish to the Board's satisfaction, that he or she meets all of the requirements to be a federally eligible individual and is currently and permanently residing in this State (as of the date his or her application was received by the Board).

(c) Except as otherwise provided in this Section, a period of creditable coverage shall not be counted, with respect to qualifying an applicant for Plan coverage as a federally eligible individual under this Section, if after such period and before the application for Plan coverage was received by the Board, there was at least a 90 day period during all of which the individual was not covered under any creditable coverage.

For a federally eligible person who has been certified as eligible pursuant to the federal Trade Act of 2002, a period of creditable coverage shall not be counted, with respect to qualifying an applicant for Plan coverage as a federally eligible individual under this Section, if after such period and before the application for Plan coverage was received by the Board, there was at least a 63 day period during all of which the individual was not covered under any creditable coverage.

(d) Any federally eligible individual who the Board determines qualifies for Plan coverage under this Section shall be offered his or her choice of enrolling in one of alternative portability health benefit plans which the Board is authorized under this Section to establish for these federally eligible individuals and their dependents.

(e) The Board shall offer a choice of health care coverages consistent with major medical coverage under the alternative health benefit plans authorized by this Section to every federally eligible individual. The coverages to be offered under the plans, the schedule of benefits, deductibles, co-payments, exclusions, and other limitations shall be approved by the Board. One optional form of coverage shall be comparable to comprehensive health insurance coverage offered in the individual market in this State or a standard option of coverage available under the group or individual health insurance laws of the State. The standard benefit plan that is authorized by Section 8 of this Act may be used for this purpose. The Board may also offer a preferred provider option and such other options as the Board determines may be appropriate for these federally eligible individuals who qualify for Plan coverage pursuant to this Section.

(f) Notwithstanding the requirements of subsection f. of Section 8, any plan coverage that is issued to federally eligible individuals who qualify for the Plan pursuant to the portability provisions of this Section shall not be subject to any preexisting conditions exclusion, waiting period, or other similar limitation on coverage.

(g) Federally eligible individuals who qualify and enroll in the Plan pursuant to this Section shall be required to pay such premium rates as the Board shall establish and approve in accordance with the requirements of Section 7.1 of this Act. Federally eligible individuals who qualify and enroll in the Plan and are unemployed or retired coal miners whose employer-provided health insurance coverage was terminated on September 28, 2004 shall be required to pay the discounted or subsidized premium rates that the Board has established and approved in accordance with subsection k of Section 4 of this Act.

(h) A federally eligible individual who qualifies and enrolls in the Plan pursuant to this Section must satisfy on an ongoing basis all of the other eligibility requirements of this Act to the extent not inconsistent with the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 in order to maintain continued eligibility for coverage under the Plan.

(Source: P.A. 92-153, eff. 7-25-01; 93-33, eff. 6-23-03; 93-34, eff. 6-23-03; 93-622, eff. 12-18-03.)

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.