SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — New U.S. health care legislation will expand access to Illinois' high-risk insurance pool. But it's not yet clear who will be able to enroll.
State officials must wait for guidance from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. That's due this summer.
Illinois Department of Insurance Director Michael McRaith says its likely costs will be reduced for the 16,000 state residents already covered in the high-risk pool.
And more uninsured people will be able to get coverage in the pool. McRaith says Illinois will provide "as much relief as we can, as early as we can."
The legislation signed by President Barack Obama this week allocated $5 billion to states to establish or expand the last-resort coverage. Illinois is among 35 states that already have high-risk pools.
Copyright 2010 The Associated Press.
State officials must wait for guidance from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. That's due this summer.
Illinois Department of Insurance Director Michael McRaith says its likely costs will be reduced for the 16,000 state residents already covered in the high-risk pool.
And more uninsured people will be able to get coverage in the pool. McRaith says Illinois will provide "as much relief as we can, as early as we can."
The legislation signed by President Barack Obama this week allocated $5 billion to states to establish or expand the last-resort coverage. Illinois is among 35 states that already have high-risk pools.
Copyright 2010 The Associated Press.
