Gov. Rod Blagojevich's administration is filing two new rules to address major health care problems in the state that directly impact the LGBT community.
These rules, filed by the state's Division of Insurance, will stop insurance companies from basing premium increases on the health status of people renewing their individual plans, as well as force these companies to disclose information on premiums and expenses to the state.
Currently, over one million Illinoisan purchase plans directly from health insurance companies. These rules would help Illinoisan, especially those with pre-existing conditions and illnesses, from getting priced out of their health insurance plans.
Mike McRaith, Director of the Division of Insurance, knows that these rules, as well as the governor's comprehensive healthcare plan ( Illinois Covered ) , if passed, will directly impact the LGBT community. There are those in the community who own small businesses, are self-employed, have illnesses such as HIV or breast cancer, as well as those with mental health or addiction issues, whose lives will be changed.
In Illinois, some of the largest health insurance companies are publicly traded, and generate profit from premiums. McRaith hopes that forcing these companies to disclose detailed information will provide a glimpse on how these companies are spending dollars, and how much of that money is going for healthcare for individuals and to shareholders.
But most importantly, it will help those individuals who are trying to keep up with rising health insurance costs. McRaith said that if the Illinois Covered bill is passed, those in the community currently struggling to keep up will be better off. 'Somebody who is HIV-positive, or just battled breast cancer, can then get health insurance that works for the individual, not just the health insurance company. You shouldn't have to be priced out of your policy.'
To give a better idea of how healthcare costs have impacted Illinoisan, McRaith said, right before the federal Bankruptcy Reform Act of 2005 took effect, more than 10,000 people filed for bankruptcy in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Illinois. Between one-half to two-thirds of those individuals filed due to medical costs. Roughly 75 percent on those who filed based on medical costs had health insurance.
Also, across the country, the trend is that fewer companies are offering insurance, and people are having to give up their dreams of being self-employed or owning a business because they can't keep up with or afford the premiums for individual plans.
'The governor remains constant in his commitment to providing affordable and accessible healthcare and health insurance,' McRaith said. 'When Illinois Covered passes, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals will have available and affordable health insurance that they do not have right now.'