Progress Illinois

Spending cuts for Medicaid is dominating talk in Springfield, as both Democrats and Republicans point the finger at the health care program as one of the main causes of the state’s budget woes. The current Medicaid debate, though, is perhaps misleading. Read more »

A group of Chicagoans plan on caroling at City Hall tomorrow morning, but their song list and message may not evoke feelings of merriment and warmth. In fact, the carolers hope to send a stern message to Mayor Rahm Emanuel about their refusal to accept the closing of half of the city's mental health clinics and privatization of neighborhood health clinics, as outlined in the 2012 city budget.

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If you have always had the privilege of health insurance, you may not fully understand the serious need for health care reform and the improved accessiblity to care and coverage that it will provide to millions of Americans. But a series by Illinois Health Matters may help make the dire need for reform more clear to those who haven't had to battle for care and coverage due to pre-exisiting conditions, part-time work, job loss, or self employment.

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In a move to protect healthcare amid growing tensions between President Barack Obama, House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) and other political leaders in Washington, D.C., members of the President’s home-state Democratic Congressional Delegation—and SEIU—are urging him to avoid Medicaid cuts that would impact 2 million Illinois residents.

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Health insurers in Illinois can raise rates with impunity, while making enormous profits and doing little to improve health care for their customers. But a bill introduced in the Illinois House would change that. The legislation would create what is known as rate review, requiring insurers to inform the Department of Insurance of any rate hikes, giving the department an opportunity to reject what it determines are excessive or discriminatory increases.

Last year, the biggest insurance companies reported (PDF) surpluses of $28.3 billion, while increasing premiums over 18 percent, according to the Department of Insurance. Since 2005, insurance rates in Illinois have skyrocketed over 181 percent. Thirty states currently have legislation to provide a check on rate hikes by health insurance companies, but Illinois is not one of them.

State Rep. Greg Harris (D-Chicago), the lead sponsor of the rate review bill (HB 1501), told Progress Illinois his legislation would "provide information to the Department of Insurance to be sure that the increases they're asking for in premiums are fair and just." He added that thanks in part to federal grants issued to Illinois as part of the federal health care reform, the bill is also revenue neutral. The bill seems like a no-brainer, though it faces an uncertain fate in the House Insurance Committee. Harris said he is not after corporate profits but he wants to protect consumers and create transparency. "I think people justifiably want to know if those going to increase health care or is this going into someone's pocket," he said.