(215 ILCS 5/356z.17)

Sec. 356z.17. Wellness coverage.

(a) A group or individual policy of accident and health insurance or managed care plan amended, delivered, issued, or renewed after January 1, 2010 (the effective date of Public Act 96-639) that provides coverage for hospital or medical treatment on an expense incurred basis may offer a reasonably designed program for wellness coverage that allows for a reward, a contribution, a reduction in premiums or reduced medical, prescription drug, or equipment copayments, coinsurance, or deductibles, or a combination of these incentives, for participation in any health behavior wellness, maintenance, or improvement program approved or offered by the insurer or managed care plan. The insured or enrollee may be required to provide evidence of participation in a program. Individuals unable to participate in these incentives due to an adverse health factor shall not be penalized based upon an adverse health status.

(b) For purposes of this Section, "wellness coverage" means health care coverage with the primary purpose to engage and motivate the insured or enrollee through: incentives; provision of health education, counseling, and self-management skills; identification of modifiable health risks; and other activities to influence health behavior changes.

For the purposes of this Section, "reasonably designed program" means a program of wellness coverage that has a reasonable chance of improving health or preventing disease; is not overly burdensome; does not discriminate based upon factors of health; and is not otherwise contrary to law.

(c) Incentives as outlined in this Section are specific and unique to the offering of wellness coverage and have no application to any other required or optional health care benefit.

(d) Such wellness coverage must satisfy the requirements for an exception from the general prohibition against discrimination based on a health factor under the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (P.L. 104-191; 110 Stat. 1936), including any federal regulations that are adopted pursuant to that Act.

(e) A plan offering wellness coverage must do the following:

(i) give participants the opportunity to qualify for offered incentives at least once a year;

(ii) allow a reasonable alternative to any individual for whom it is unreasonably difficult, due to a medical condition, to satisfy otherwise applicable wellness program standards. Plans may seek physician verification that health factors make it unreasonably difficult or medically inadvisable for the participant to satisfy the standards; and

(iii) not provide a total incentive that exceeds 30% of the cost of self-only or employee-only coverage, except that the incentive may be increased by up to an additional 20%, for a total incentive of 50%, to the extent that the additional percentage is in connection with a program designed to prevent or reduce tobacco use. The cost of employee-only or family coverage provided through group health insurance coverage includes both employer and employee contributions. For group or individual plans offering family coverage, the limitation applies to cost of family coverage and applies to the entire family.

(f) A reward, contribution, or reduction established under this Section and included in the policy or certificate does not violate Section 151 of this Code.

(Source: P.A. 102-462, eff. 8-20-21.)