CHICAGO (AP) — Hundreds of Illinois residents have submitted applications for a new federally funded health insurance program for people with medical problems.
Enrollment opened Friday for the program, an early benefit of the new national health care reform law.
Illinois Department of Insurance Director Michael McRaith says about 370 applications were submitted during the first few hours.
An application form is at http://www.insurance.illinois.gov.
The program works like any health plan. Enrollees pay monthly premiums ranging from about $110 to $650 depending on a person's age, where they live and whether they use tobacco.
Legal residents who've been uninsured for at least six months are eligible. Applicants must show they're uninsured because of a pre-existing medical condition.
Copyright 2010 The Associated Press.
