HR0332 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0332 LRB097 11838 JDS 55163 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Rising healthcare costs continue to be the number one concern for small and medium-sized businesses in Illinois; and

WHEREAS, According to the Council for Affordable Health Insurance (CAHI), healthcare mandates cumulatively can raise the cost of basic health coverage by 20% to 50%; and

WHEREAS, According to CAHI, Illinois currently has 47 different insurance mandates in law today; and

WHEREAS, Healthcare mandates are paid for by only small and medium-sized businesses that buy health insurance on the open market; and

WHEREAS, Illinois policy makers need a better understanding of the costs these mandates add to health insurance in order to strike a balance between managing healthcare costs and providing access to quality health insurance; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we request the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability to study the cost of each healthcare mandate that is a part of the Illinois Insurance Code on the date this resolution is adopted, as well as the cumulative effect of those mandates on the overall cost of health insurance in Illinois for businesses; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the findings of the Commission be reported to the General Assembly by February 6, 2012, to ensure that the members of the General Assembly are informed about the costs and overall impact these mandates have on the ability of small and medium-sized businesses to purchase health insurance; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be delivered to the Executive Director of the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability.