HB0018 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB097 00046 RPM 40049 b

97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2011 and 2012
HB0018

Introduced 1/12/2011, by Rep. Jil Tracy

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

215 ILCS 170/20

Amends the Covering ALL KIDS Health Insurance Act. In the provision concerning eligibility, adds the requirement that a person must be a child who has a household income equal to or less than 300% of the federal poverty guidelines. Provides that a child who is determined to be eligible shall remain eligible for 12 months, provided that the child has not gained access to affordable employer-sponsored dependent health insurance. Provides that the parent, guardian, or legal custodian of an enrolled child shall report promptly those changes in income and other circumstances that affect eligibility within 30 days after the occurrence of the change. Provides that the eligibility of a child may be redetermined based on the information reported or may be terminated based on the failure to report or failure to report accurately.

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 Covering ALL KIDS Health Insurance Act is amended by changing Sections 20 and 25 as follows:

(215 ILCS 170/20)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on July 1, 2011)

Sec. 20. Eligibility.

(a) To be eligible for the Program, a person must be a child:

(1) who is a resident of the State of Illinois; and

(2) who is ineligible for medical assistance under the Illinois Public Aid Code or benefits under the Children's Health Insurance Program Act; and

(3) either (i) who has been without health insurance coverage for a period set forth by the Department in rules, but not less than 6 months during the first month of operation of the Program, 7 months during the second month of operation, 8 months during the third month of operation, 9 months during the fourth month of operation, 10 months during the fifth month of operation, 11 months during the sixth month of operation, and 12 months thereafter, (ii) whose parent has lost employment that made available affordable dependent health insurance coverage, until such time as affordable employer-sponsored dependent health insurance coverage is again available for the child as set forth by the Department in rules, (iii) who is a newborn whose responsible relative does not have available affordable private or employer-sponsored health insurance, or (iv) who, within one year of applying for coverage under this Act, lost medical benefits under the Illinois Public Aid Code or the Children's Health Insurance Program Act; and .

(4) who has a household income equal to or less than 300% of the federal poverty guidelines as determined annually by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

An entity that provides health insurance coverage (as defined in Section 2 of the Comprehensive Health Insurance Plan Act) to Illinois residents shall provide health insurance data match to the Department of Healthcare and Family Services for the purpose of determining eligibility for the Program under this Act.

The Department of Healthcare and Family Services, in collaboration with the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, Division of Insurance, shall adopt rules governing the exchange of information under this Section. The rules shall be consistent with all laws relating to the confidentiality or privacy of personal information or medical records, including provisions under the Federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).

(b) The Department shall monitor the availability and retention of employer-sponsored dependent health insurance coverage and shall modify the period described in subdivision (a)(3) if necessary to promote retention of private or employer-sponsored health insurance and timely access to healthcare services, but at no time shall the period described in subdivision (a)(3) be less than 6 months.

(c) The Department, at its discretion, may take into account the affordability of dependent health insurance when determining whether employer-sponsored dependent health insurance coverage is available upon reemployment of a child's parent as provided in subdivision (a)(3).

(d) A child who is determined to be eligible for the Program shall remain eligible for 12 months, provided that the child maintains his or her residence in this State, has not yet attained 19 years of age, has not gained access to affordable employer-sponsored dependent health insurance coverage, and is not excluded under subsection (e).

(e) A child is not eligible for coverage under the Program if:

(1) the premium required under Section 40 has not been timely paid; if the required premiums are not paid, the liability of the Program shall be limited to benefits incurred under the Program for the time period for which premiums have been paid; re-enrollment shall be completed before the next covered medical visit, and the first month's required premium shall be paid in advance of the next covered medical visit; or

(2) the child is an inmate of a public institution or an institution for mental diseases.

(f) The Department shall adopt eligibility rules, including, but not limited to: rules regarding annual renewals of eligibility for the Program; rules providing for re-enrollment, grace periods, notice requirements, and hearing procedures under subdivision (e)(1) of this Section; and rules regarding what constitutes availability and affordability of private or employer-sponsored health insurance, with consideration of such factors as the percentage of income needed to purchase children or family health insurance, the availability of employer subsidies, and other relevant factors.

(g) The parent, guardian, or legal custodian of an enrolled child shall report promptly those changes in income and other circumstances, including availability of affordable employer-sponsored dependent health insurance coverage, that affect eligibility within 30 days after the occurrence of the change. The eligibility of a child may be redetermined based on the information reported or may be terminated based on the failure to report or failure to report accurately.

(Source: P.A. 96-1272, eff. 1-1-11.)