State of Illinois
90th General Assembly
Legislation

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[ Introduced ][ Engrossed ][ Senate Amendment 001 ]

90_SB0802enr

      New Act
      215 ILCS 5/155.31 new
      215 ILCS 105/1.1          from Ch. 73, par. 1301.1
      215 ILCS 105/2            from Ch. 73, par. 1302
      215 ILCS 105/3            from Ch. 73, par. 1303
      215 ILCS 105/4            from Ch. 73, par. 1304
      215 ILCS 105/5            from Ch. 73, par. 1305
      215 ILCS 105/7            from Ch. 73, par. 1307
      215 ILCS 105/7.1 new
      215 ILCS 105/8            from Ch. 73, par. 1308
      215 ILCS 105/10           from Ch. 73, par. 1310
      215 ILCS 105/12           from Ch. 73, par. 1312
      215 ILCS 105/14           from Ch. 73, par. 1314
      215 ILCS 105/15 new
      215 ILCS 125/5-3.5 new
      215 ILCS 130/4002.5 new
      215 ILCS 165/15.25 new
          Creates the Illinois  Health  Insurance  Portability  and
      Accountability   Act.     Sets  forth  State  provisions  for
      portability of  coverage  in  accordance  with  federal  law.
      Amends the Comprehensive Health Insurance Plan Act.  Provides
      for the Plan to extend coverage to individuals in conformance
      with  the  portability  requirements  of  the  federal Health
      Insurance  Portability  and  Accountability  Act   of   1996.
      Authorizes  the use of management programs for cost effective
      provision of health care services.   Increases  the  lifetime
      benefit under the Plan to $1,000,000. Authorizes the Board to
      assess  insurers  in  this  State to pay costs not covered by
      appropriation with respect to federally eligible individuals.
      Amends  the  Illinois  Insurance  Code,  Health   Maintenance
      Organization  Act,  Limited  Health Service Organization Act,
      and Voluntary  Health  Services  Plans  Act.   Provides  that
      coverage  under  those Acts is subject to the Illinois Health
      Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. Effective  July
      1, 1997.
                                                    LRB9002422JSdvA
SB802 Enrolled                                LRB9002422JSdvA
 1        AN ACT concerning health insurance, amending named Acts.
 2        Be  it  enacted  by  the People of the State of Illinois,
 3    represented in the General Assembly:
 4        Section 1.  Short title.  This Act may be  cited  as  the
 5    Illinois Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act.
 6        Section 5.  Definitions.
 7        "Beneficiary"  has  the  meaning  given  such  term under
 8    Section 3(8) of the Employee Retirement Income  Security  Act
 9    of 1974.
10        "Bona  fide  association"  means,  with respect to health
11    insurance coverage offered in a State, an association  which:
12        (1)  has been actively in existence for at least 5 years;
13        (2)  has  been  formed  and  maintained in good faith for
14    purposes other than obtaining insurance;
15        (3)  does not condition membership in the association  on
16    any  health  status-related  factor relating to an individual
17    (including an employee of an employer or a  dependent  of  an
18    employee);
19        (4)  makes  health insurance coverage offered through the
20    association available to all members regardless of any health
21    status-related  factor   relating   to   such   members   (or
22    individuals eligible for coverage through a member);
23        (5)  does  not  make  health  insurance  coverage offered
24    through the association available other  than  in  connection
25    with a member of the association; and
26        (6)  meets such additional requirements as may be imposed
27    under State law.
28        "Church  plan"  has  the  meaning  given  that term under
29    Section 3(33) of the Employee Retirement Income Security  Act
30    of 1974.
31        "COBRA   continuation   provision"   means   any  of  the
SB802 Enrolled              -2-               LRB9002422JSdvA
 1    following:
 2             (1)  Section 4980B of the Internal Revenue  Code  of
 3        1986,  other  than  subsection  (f)(1)  of  that  Section
 4        insofar as it relates to pediatric vaccines.
 5             (2)  Part 6 of subtitle B of title I of the Employee
 6        Retirement  Income  Security  Act  of  1974,  other  than
 7        Section 609 of that Act.
 8             (3)  Title  XXII  of  federal  Public Health Service
 9        Act.
10        "Department" means the Department of Insurance.
11        "Employee" has the meaning given that term under  Section
12    3(6) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.
13        "Employer"  has the meaning given that term under Section
14    3(5) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of  1974,
15    except  that  the  term  shall include only employers of 2 or
16    more employees.
17        "Enrollment date" means, with respect  to  an  individual
18    covered  under  a group health plan or group health insurance
19    coverage, the date of enrollment of  the  individual  in  the
20    plan or coverage, or if earlier, the first day of the waiting
21    period for enrollment.
22        "Federal  governmental  plan"  means  a governmental plan
23    established or maintained for its employees by the government
24    of the United States or by any agency or  instrumentality  of
25    that government.
26        "Governmental plan" has the meaning given that term under
27    Section  3(32) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act
28    of 1974 and any federal governmental plan.
29        "Group health insurance coverage"  means,  in  connection
30    with  a  group health plan, health insurance coverage offered
31    in connection with the plan.
32        "Group health plan" means  an  employee  welfare  benefit
33    plan  (as  defined in Section 3(1) of the Employee Retirement
34    Income Security Act of 1974) to  the  extent  that  the  plan
SB802 Enrolled              -3-               LRB9002422JSdvA
 1    provides  medical  care  (as defined in paragraph (2) of that
 2    Section and including items and services paid for as  medical
 3    care)  to employees or their dependents (as defined under the
 4    terms  of  the   plan)   directly   or   through   insurance,
 5    reimbursement, or otherwise.
 6        "Health  insurance coverage" means benefits consisting of
 7    medical  care  (provided  directly,  through   insurance   or
 8    reimbursement,  or otherwise and including items and services
 9    paid for as medical  care)  under  any  hospital  or  medical
10    service  policy  or  certificate, hospital or medical service
11    plan contract, or health  maintenance  organization  contract
12    offered by a health insurance issuer.
13        "Health  insurance  issuer"  means  an insurance company,
14    insurance service, or  insurance  organization  (including  a
15    health  maintenance organization, as defined herein) which is
16    licensed to engage in the business of insurance  in  a  state
17    and   which  is  subject  to  Illinois  law  which  regulates
18    insurance (within the meaning of  Section  514(b)(2)  of  the
19    Employee  Retirement  Income Security Act of 1974).  The term
20    does not include a group health plan.
21        "Health maintenance organization (HMO)" means:
22             (1)  a  Federally   qualified   health   maintenance
23        organization (as defined in Section 1301(a) of the Public
24        Health Service Act.);
25             (2)  an organization recognized under State law as a
26        health maintenance organization; or
27             (3)  a  similar  organization  regulated under State
28        law for solvency in the  same  manner  and  to  the  same
29        extent as such a health maintenance organization.
30        "Individual   health  insurance  coverage"  means  health
31    insurance coverage offered to individuals in  the  individual
32    market,  but  does  not  include  short-term limited duration
33    insurance.
34        "Individual market" means the market for health insurance
SB802 Enrolled              -4-               LRB9002422JSdvA
 1    coverage offered to individuals other than in connection with
 2    a group health plan.
 3        "Large employer" means, in connection with a group health
 4    plan with respect to a calendar year  and  a  plan  year,  an
 5    employer  who employed an average of at least 51 employees on
 6    business days during the  preceding  calendar  year  and  who
 7    employs  at  least  2  employees on the first day of the plan
 8    year.
 9             (1)  Application  of  aggregation  rule  for   large
10        employers.   All  persons  treated  as  a single employer
11        under subsection (b), (c), (m), or (o) of Section 414  of
12        the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 shall be treated as one
13        employer.
14             (2)  Employers  not  in existence in preceding year.
15        In the case of an employer which  was  not  in  existence
16        throughout the preceding calendar year, the determination
17        of  whether  the  employer  is  a large employer shall be
18        based on the average  number  of  employees  that  it  is
19        reasonably  expected the employer will employ on business
20        days in the current calendar year.
21             (3)  Predecessors.  Any reference in this Act to  an
22        employer  shall include a reference to any predecessor of
23        such employer.
24        "Large group market" means the  health  insurance  market
25    under  which  individuals  obtain  health  insurance coverage
26    (directly or through any arrangement) on behalf of themselves
27    (and their dependents) through a group health plan maintained
28    by a large employer.
29        "Late enrollee" means with respect to  coverage  under  a
30    group  health  plan, a participant or beneficiary who enrolls
31    under the plan other than during:
32             (1)  the first period in  which  the  individual  is
33        eligible to enroll under the plan; or
34             (2)  a  special  enrollment  period under subsection
SB802 Enrolled              -5-               LRB9002422JSdvA
 1        (F) of Section 20.
 2        "Medical care" means amounts paid for:
 3             (1)  the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment,  or
 4        prevention of disease, or amounts paid for the purpose of
 5        affecting any structure or function of the body;
 6             (2)  amounts  paid  for transportation primarily for
 7        and essential to medical care referred to  in  item  (1);
 8        and
 9             (3)  amounts  paid  for  insurance  covering medical
10        care referred to in items (1) and (2).
11        "Nonfederal governmental plan" means a governmental  plan
12    that is not a federal governmental plan.
13        "Network  plan"  means  health  insurance  coverage  of a
14    health  insurance  issuer  under  which  the  financing   and
15    delivery  of  medical care (including items and services paid
16    for as medical care) are  provided,  in  whole  or  in  part,
17    through  a  defined  set of providers under contract with the
18    issuer.
19        "Participant" has  the  meaning  given  that  term  under
20    Section  3(7)  of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act
21    of 1974.
22        "Placement" or being "placed" for adoption, in connection
23    with any placement for adoption of a child with  any  person,
24    means  the  assumption and retention by the person of a legal
25    obligation for total or  partial  support  of  the  child  in
26    anticipation of adoption of the child.  The child's placement
27    with  the person terminates upon the termination of the legal
28    obligation.
29        "Plan sponsor" has the  meaning  given  that  term  under
30    Section  3(16)(B)  of the Employee Retirement Income Security
31    Act of 1974.
32        "Preexisting condition exclusion" means, with respect  to
33    coverage, a limitation or exclusion of benefits relating to a
34    condition  based  on  the fact that the condition was present
SB802 Enrolled              -6-               LRB9002422JSdvA
 1    before the date of enrollment for such coverage,  whether  or
 2    not  any  medical  advice,  diagnosis, care, or treatment was
 3    recommended or received before such date.
 4        "Small employer" means, in connection with a group health
 5    plan with respect to a calendar year  and  a  plan  year,  an
 6    employer  who  employed an average of at least 2 but not more
 7    than 50 employees  on  business  days  during  the  preceding
 8    calendar  year  and  who  employs at least 2 employees on the
 9    first day of the plan year.
10             (1)  Application  of  aggregation  rule  for   small
11        employers.   All  persons  treated  as  a single employer
12        under subsection (b), (c), (m), or (o) of Section 414  of
13        the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 shall be treated as one
14        employer.
15             (2)  Employers  not  in existence in preceding year.
16        In the case of an employer which  was  not  in  existence
17        throughout the preceding calendar year, the determination
18        of  whether  the  employer  is  a small employer shall be
19        based on the average  number  of  employees  that  it  is
20        reasonably  expected the employer will employ on business
21        days in the current calendar year.
22             (3)  Predecessors.  Any reference in this Act  to  a
23        small   employer   shall   include  a  reference  to  any
24        predecessor of that employer.
25        "Small group market" means the  health  insurance  market
26    under  which  individuals  obtain  health  insurance coverage
27    (directly or through any arrangement) on behalf of themselves
28    (and their dependents) through a group health plan maintained
29    by a small employer.
30        "State" means each of the several States, the District of
31    Columbia, Puerto Rico, the  Virgin  Islands,  Guam,  American
32    Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands.
33        "Waiting  period"  means  with  respect to a group health
34    plan and an individual who  is  a  potential  participant  or
SB802 Enrolled              -7-               LRB9002422JSdvA
 1    beneficiary  in  the  plan, the period of time that must pass
 2    with respect to  the  individual  before  the  individual  is
 3    eligible  to  be  covered for benefits under the terms of the
 4    plan.
 5        Section 15.  Applicability and scope. This Act applies to
 6    all  health  insurance  policies  and  all   health   service
 7    contracts  issued,  renewed,  or  delivered  for  issuance or
 8    renewal in this State by a health insurance issuer after  the
 9    effective  date  of  this Act.  Unless otherwise specifically
10    provided by this Act, the standards and requirements  imposed
11    by   this  Act  shall  supersede  and  replace  any  and  all
12    conflicting, inconsistent or less  restrictive  standards  or
13    requirements  contained  in  the Illinois Insurance Code, the
14    Health  Maintenance  Organization  Act,  the  Limited  Health
15    Service Organization Act, and the Voluntary  Health  Services
16    Plans Act.
17        Section  20.  Increased portability through limitation on
18    preexisting condition exclusions.
19        (A)  Limitation  of   preexisting   condition   exclusion
20    period;  crediting for periods of previous coverage.  Subject
21    to  subsection  (D),  a  group  health  plan,  and  a  health
22    insurance issuer offering group  health  insurance  coverage,
23    may,  with  respect to a participant or beneficiary, impose a
24    preexisting condition exclusion only if:
25             (1)  the exclusion relates to a  condition  (whether
26        physical  or  mental),  regardless  of  the  cause of the
27        condition, for which medical advice, diagnosis, care,  or
28        treatment  was recommended or received within the 6-month
29        period ending on the enrollment date;
30             (2)  the exclusion extends for a period of not  more
31        than  12  months  (or  18  months  in  the case of a late
32        enrollee) after the enrollment date; and
SB802 Enrolled              -8-               LRB9002422JSdvA
 1             (3)  the period of any  such  preexisting  condition
 2        exclusion  is  reduced by the aggregate of the periods of
 3        creditable coverage (if any,  as  defined  in  subsection
 4        (C)(1))  applicable  to the participant or beneficiary as
 5        of the enrollment date.
 6        (B)  Preexisting condition  exclusion.   A  group  health
 7    plan,  and  health  insurance  issuer  offering  group health
 8    insurance coverage, may not impose any preexisting  condition
 9    exclusion relating to pregnancy as a preexisting condition.
10        Genetic  information  shall not be treated as a condition
11    described in subsection (A)(1) in the absence of a  diagnosis
12    of the condition related to such information.
13        (C)  Rules relating to crediting previous coverage.
14        (1)  Creditable  coverage  defined.  For purposes of this
15        Act, the term "creditable coverage" means,  with  respect
16        to an individual, coverage of the individual under any of
17        the following:
18             (a)  A group health plan.
19             (b)  Health insurance coverage.
20             (c)  Part  A  or part B of title XVIII of the Social
21        Security Act.
22             (d)  Title XIX of the  Social  Security  Act,  other
23        than coverage consisting solely of benefits under Section
24        1928.
25             (e)  Chapter 55 of title 10, United States Code.
26             (f)  A  medical  care  program  of the Indian Health
27        Service or of a tribal organization.
28             (g)  A State health benefits risk pool.
29             (h)  A health plan offered under chapter 89 of title
30        5, United States Code.
31             (i)  A   public   health   plan   (as   defined   in
32        regulations).
33             (j)  A health benefit plan under Section 5(e) of the
34        Peace Corps Act (22 U.S.C. 2504(e)).
SB802 Enrolled              -9-               LRB9002422JSdvA
 1        Such term does not include coverage consisting solely  of
 2    coverage of excepted benefits.
 3        (2)  Excepted  benefits.   For  purposes of this Act, the
 4    term "excepted benefits" means benefits under one or more  of
 5    the following:
 6             (a)  Benefits not subject to requirements:
 7                  (i)  Coverage  only for accident, or disability
 8             income insurance, or any combination thereof.
 9                  (ii)  Coverage  issued  as  a   supplement   to
10             liability insurance.
11                  (iii)  Liability  insurance,  including general
12             liability   insurance   and   automobile   liability
13             insurance.
14                  (iv)  Workers'    compensation    or    similar
15             insurance.
16                  (v)  Automobile medical payment insurance.
17                  (vi)  Credit-only insurance.
18                  (vii)  Coverage for on-site medical clinics.
19                  (viii)  Other   similar   insurance   coverage,
20             specified in regulations, under which  benefits  for
21             medical  care  are  secondary or incidental to other
22             insurance benefits.
23             (b)  Benefits not subject to requirements if offered
24        separately:
25                  (i)  Limited scope dental or vision benefits.
26                  (ii)  Benefits for long-term care, nursing home
27             care, home health care, community-based care, or any
28             combination thereof.
29                  (iii)  Such other similar, limited benefits  as
30             are specified in rules.
31             (c)  Benefits   not   subject   to  requirements  if
32        offered, as independent, noncoordinated benefits:
33                  (i)  Coverage only for a specified  disease  or
34             illness.
SB802 Enrolled              -10-              LRB9002422JSdvA
 1                  (ii)  Hospital   indemnity   or   other   fixed
 2             indemnity insurance.
 3             (d)  Benefits not subject to requirements if offered
 4        as  separate  insurance  policy.   Medicare  supplemental
 5        health  insurance (as defined under Section 1882(g)(1) of
 6        the Social Security Act), coverage  supplemental  to  the
 7        coverage  provided  under  chapter 55 of title 10, United
 8        States Code, and similar supplemental  coverage  provided
 9        to coverage under a group health plan.
10        (3)  Not  counting  periods  before significant breaks in
11    coverage.
12             (a)  In general.  A period  of  creditable  coverage
13        shall  not  be  counted, with respect to enrollment of an
14        individual under a group  health  plan,  if,  after  such
15        period  and  before  the enrollment date, there was a 63-
16        day period during all of which  the  individual  was  not
17        covered under any creditable coverage.
18             (b)  Waiting  period  not  treated  as  a  break  in
19        coverage.    For   purposes   of   subparagraph  (a)  and
20        subsection (D)(3), any period that an individual is in  a
21        waiting period for any coverage under a group health plan
22        (or  for  group  health  insurance  coverage) or is in an
23        affiliation period  (as  defined  in  subsection  (G)(2))
24        shall  not  be  taken  into  account  in  determining the
25        continuous period under subparagraph (a).
26        (4)  Method of crediting coverage.
27             (a)  Standard method.  Except as otherwise  provided
28        under   subparagraph   (b),   for  purposes  of  applying
29        subsection (A)(3), a group  health  plan,  and  a  health
30        insurance   issuer   offering   group   health  insurance
31        coverage, shall count a  period  of  creditable  coverage
32        without  regard  to  the specific benefits covered during
33        the period.
34             (b)  Election of alternative method.  A group health
SB802 Enrolled              -11-              LRB9002422JSdvA
 1        plan, or a health insurance issuer offering group  health
 2        insurance,  may elect to apply subsection (A)(3) based on
 3        coverage of benefits within each of  several  classes  or
 4        categories  of  benefits  specified in regulations rather
 5        than as provided under subparagraph (a).   Such  election
 6        shall be made on a uniform basis for all participants and
 7        beneficiaries.   Under  such election a group health plan
 8        or issuer shall count a  period  of  creditable  coverage
 9        with  respect to any class or category of benefits if any
10        level  of  benefits  is  covered  within  such  class  or
11        category.
12             (c)  Plan notice.  In the case of an  election  with
13        respect  to  a  group  health plan under subparagraph (b)
14        (whether or not health insurance coverage is provided  in
15        connection with such plan), the plan shall:
16                  (i)  prominently   state   in   any  disclosure
17             statements concerning the plan, and  state  to  each
18             enrollee  at  the time of enrollment under the plan,
19             that the plan has made such election; and
20                  (ii)  include in such statements a  description
21             of the effect of this election.
22             (d)  Issuer  notice.   In  the  case  of an election
23        under subparagraph (b) with respect to  health  insurance
24        coverage offered by an issuer in the small or large group
25        market, the issuer:
26                  (i)  shall  prominently state in any disclosure
27             statements concerning  the  coverage,  and  to  each
28             employer  at  the  time  of the offer or sale of the
29             coverage, that the issuer has  made  such  election;
30             and
31                  (ii)  shall   include   in  such  statements  a
32             description of the effect of such election.
33        (5)  Establishment  of  period.   Periods  of  creditable
34    coverage with respect to an individual shall  be  established
SB802 Enrolled              -12-              LRB9002422JSdvA
 1    through   presentation   or   certifications   described   in
 2    subsection (E) or in such other manner as may be specified in
 3    regulations.
 4        (D)  Exceptions:
 5        (1)  Exclusion   not   applicable  to  certain  newborns.
 6    Subject to paragraph (3), a group health plan, and  a  health
 7    insurance  issuer  offering  group health insurance coverage,
 8    may not impose any preexisting  condition  exclusion  in  the
 9    case  of  an individual who, as of the last day of the 30-day
10    period beginning with the date of  birth,  is  covered  under
11    creditable coverage.
12        (2)  Exclusion   not   applicable   to   certain  adopted
13    children.  Subject to paragraph (3), a group health plan, and
14    a health insurance issuer  offering  group  health  insurance
15    coverage,  may not impose any preexisting condition exclusion
16    in the case of a child who is adopted or placed for  adoption
17    before  attaining 18 years of age and who, as of the last day
18    of the 30-day period beginning on the date of the adoption or
19    placement for adoption, is covered under creditable coverage.
20        The previous sentence shall not apply to coverage  before
21    the date of such adoption or placement for adoption.
22        (3)  Loss  if  break in coverage.  Paragraphs (1) and (2)
23    shall no longer apply to an individual after the end  of  the
24    first  63-day  period  during all of which the individual was
25    not covered under any creditable coverage.
26        (E)  Certifications and disclosure of coverage.
27        (1)  Requirement   for   Certification   of   Period   of
28    Creditable Coverage.
29             (a)  A group health plan,  and  a  health  insurance
30        issuer  offering  group  health insurance coverage, shall
31        provide the certification described in subparagraph (b):
32                  (i)  at the time an  individual  ceases  to  be
33             covered  under the plan or otherwise becomes covered
34             under a COBRA continuation provision;
SB802 Enrolled              -13-              LRB9002422JSdvA
 1                  (ii)  in the case  of  an  individual  becoming
 2             covered  under  such  a  provision,  at the time the
 3             individual  ceases  to   be   covered   under   such
 4             provision; and
 5                  (iii)  on   the   request   on   behalf  of  an
 6             individual made not later than 24 months  after  the
 7             date  of  cessation  of  the  coverage  described in
 8             clause (i) or (ii), whichever is later.
 9        The certification under clause (i) may  be  provided,  to
10        the extent practicable, at a time consistent with notices
11        required   under   any   applicable   COBRA  continuation
12        provision.
13             (b)  The    certification    described    in    this
14        subparagraph is a written certification  of:
15                  (i)  the period of creditable coverage  of  the
16             individual under such plan and the coverage (if any)
17             under such COBRA continuation provision; and
18                  (ii)  the   waiting   period   (if   any)  (and
19             affiliation  period,  if  applicable)  imposed  with
20             respect to the individual  for  any  coverage  under
21             such plan.
22             (c)  To  the  extent that medical care under a group
23        health plan consists of group health insurance  coverage,
24        the  plan  is  deemed to have satisfied the certification
25        requirement under this paragraph if the health  insurance
26        issuer   offering   the   coverage   provides   for  such
27        certification in accordance with this paragraph.
28        (2)  Disclosure of information on previous benefits.   In
29    the  case of an election described in subsection (C)(4)(b) by
30    a group health plan or health insurance issuer, if  the  plan
31    or  issuer  enrolls an individual for coverage under the plan
32    and the individual provides a certification  of  coverage  of
33    the individual under paragraph (1):
34             (a)  upon request of such plan or issuer, the entity
SB802 Enrolled              -14-              LRB9002422JSdvA
 1        which issued the certification provided by the individual
 2        shall promptly disclose to such requesting plan or issuer
 3        information  on  coverage  of  classes  and categories of
 4        health benefits available under  such  entity's  plan  or
 5        coverage; and
 6             (b)  such  entity  may charge the requesting plan or
 7        issuer  for  the  reasonable  cost  of  disclosing   such
 8        information.
 9        (3)  Rules.   The  Department  shall  establish  rules to
10    prevent an entity's  failure  to  provide  information  under
11    paragraph  (1) or (2) with respect to previous coverage of an
12    individual from adversely affecting any  subsequent  coverage
13    of  the  individual under another group health plan or health
14    insurance coverage.
15        (4)  Treatment of certain plans as group health plan  for
16    notice  provision.  A program under which creditable coverage
17    described in subparagraph (c), (d), (e), or  (f)  of  Section
18    20(C)(1)  is provided shall be treated as a group health plan
19    for purposes of this Section.
20        (F)  Special enrollment periods.
21        (1)  Individuals losing other coverage.  A  group  health
22    plan,  and  a  health  insurance issuer offering group health
23    insurance coverage in connection with a  group  health  plan,
24    shall  permit  an employee who is eligible, but not enrolled,
25    for coverage under the terms of the plan (or a  dependent  of
26    such  an  employee  if  the  dependent  is  eligible, but not
27    enrolled, for  coverage  under  such  terms)  to  enroll  for
28    coverage under the terms of the plan if each of the following
29    conditions is met:
30             (a)  The  employee  or dependent was covered under a
31        group health plan or had health insurance coverage at the
32        time coverage was previously offered to the  employee  or
33        dependent.
34             (b)  The  employee  stated  in  writing at such time
SB802 Enrolled              -15-              LRB9002422JSdvA
 1        that  coverage  under  a  group  health  plan  or  health
 2        insurance  coverage  was   the   reason   for   declining
 3        enrollment,  but  only  if the plan sponsor or issuer (if
 4        applicable) required such a statement at  such  time  and
 5        provided  the  employee  with  notice of such requirement
 6        (and the consequences of such requirement) at such time.
 7             (c)  The   employee's   or   dependent's    coverage
 8        described in subparagraph (a):
 9                  (i)  was  under  a COBRA continuation provision
10             and the coverage under such provision was exhausted;
11             or
12                  (ii) was not under such a provision and  either
13             the  coverage  was terminated as a result of loss of
14             eligibility for the coverage (including as a  result
15             of  legal separation, divorce, death, termination of
16             employment, or reduction in the number of  hours  of
17             employment)  or  employer contributions towards such
18             coverage were terminated.
19             (d)  Under the  terms  of  the  plan,  the  employee
20        requests such enrollment not later than 30 days after the
21        date  of exhaustion of coverage described in subparagraph
22        (c)(i)   or   termination   of   coverage   or   employer
23        contributions described in subparagraph (c)(ii).
24        (2)  For dependent beneficiaries.
25             (a)  In general.  If:
26                  (i)  a  group  health   plan   makes   coverage
27             available   with   respect  to  a  dependent  of  an
28             individual,
29                  (ii)  the individual is a participant under the
30             plan (or has met any waiting  period  applicable  to
31             becoming   a  participant  under  the  plan  and  is
32             eligible to be enrolled under the  plan  but  for  a
33             failure  to  enroll  during  a  previous  enrollment
34             period), and
SB802 Enrolled              -16-              LRB9002422JSdvA
 1                  (iii)  a person becomes such a dependent of the
 2             individual  through  marriage, birth, or adoption or
 3             placement for adoption,
 4        then the group health plan shall provide for a  dependent
 5        special  enrollment  period described in subparagraph (b)
 6        during which the person (or, if not  otherwise  enrolled,
 7        the  individual)  may  be  enrolled  under  the plan as a
 8        dependent of the individual, and in the case of the birth
 9        or adoption of a child, the spouse of the individual  may
10        be  enrolled  as  a  dependent  of the individual if such
11        spouse is otherwise eligible for coverage.
12             (b)  Dependent   special   enrollment   period.    A
13        dependent   special   enrollment   period   under    this
14        subparagraph  shall  be a period of not less than 30 days
15        and shall begin on the later of:
16                  (i)  the  date  dependent  coverage   is   made
17             available; or
18                  (ii)  the  date  of  the  marriage,  birth,  or
19             adoption  or placement for adoption (as the case may
20             be) described in subparagraph (a)(iii).
21             (c)  No waiting period.  If an individual  seeks  to
22        enroll  a  dependent  during  the first 30 days of such a
23        dependent special enrollment period, the coverage of  the
24        dependent shall become effective:
25                  (i)  in  the  case  of marriage, not later than
26             the first day of the first month beginning after the
27             date  the  completed  request  for   enrollment   is
28             received;
29                  (ii)  in the case of a dependent's birth, as of
30             the date of such birth; or
31                  (iii)  in the case of a dependent's adoption or
32             placement for adoption, the date of such adoption or
33             placement for adoption.
34        (G)  Use  of affiliation period by HMOs as alternative to
SB802 Enrolled              -17-              LRB9002422JSdvA
 1    preexisting condition exclusion.
 2        (1)  In general.  A health maintenance organization which
 3    offers health insurance coverage in connection with  a  group
 4    health  plan  and  which  does  not  impose  any pre-existing
 5    condition exclusion allowed under subsection (A) with respect
 6    to any particular coverage option may impose  an  affiliation
 7    period for such coverage option, but only if:
 8             (a)  such period is applied uniformly without regard
 9        to any health status-related factors; and
10             (b)  such  period  does  not  exceed  2 months (or 3
11        months in the case of a late enrollee).
12        (2)  Affiliation period.
13             (a)  Defined.  For purposes of this  Act,  the  term
14        "affiliation  period"  means  a  period  which, under the
15        terms of the health insurance  coverage  offered  by  the
16        health  maintenance  organization, must expire before the
17        health  insurance  coverage   becomes   effective.    The
18        organization  is  not  required  to  provide  health care
19        services or benefits during such period  and  no  premium
20        shall  be  charged  to the participant or beneficiary for
21        any coverage during the period.
22             (b)  Beginning.  Such  period  shall  begin  on  the
23        enrollment date.
24             (c)  Runs  concurrently  with  waiting  periods.  An
25        affiliation period under a plan  shall  run  concurrently
26        with any waiting period under the plan.
27        (3)  Alternative    methods.     A   health   maintenance
28    organization described in paragraph (1) may  use  alternative
29    methods,  from  those described in such paragraph, to address
30    adverse selection as approved by the Department.
31        Section   25.    Prohibiting    discrimination    against
32    individual participants.
33        (A)  In eligibility to enroll.
SB802 Enrolled              -18-              LRB9002422JSdvA
 1        (1)  In  general.   Subject  to  paragraph  (2),  a group
 2    health plan, and a health  insurance  issuer  offering  group
 3    health  insurance  coverage in connection with a group health
 4    plan, may not  establish  rules  for  eligibility  (including
 5    continued  eligibility) of any individual to enroll under the
 6    terms of the plan  based  on  any  of  the  following  health
 7    status-related  factors  in  relation  to the individual or a
 8    dependent of the individual:
 9             (a)  Health status.
10             (b)  Medical condition (including both physical  and
11        mental illnesses).
12             (c)  Claims experience.
13             (d)  Receipt of health care.
14             (e)  Medical history.
15             (f)  Genetic information.
16             (g)  Evidence  of insurability (including conditions
17        arising out of acts of domestic violence).
18             (h)  Disability.
19        (2)  No application to benefits or  exclusions.   To  the
20    extent   consistent   with  Section  20,  the  provisions  of
21    paragraph (1) shall not be construed:
22             (a)  to require a group health plan, or group health
23        insurance coverage, to provide particular benefits  other
24        than  those  provided  under  the  terms  of such plan or
25        coverage; or
26             (b)  to  prevent  such  a  plan  or  coverage   from
27        establishing  limitations  or restrictions on the amount,
28        level, extent, or nature of the benefits or coverage  for
29        similarly  situated  individuals  enrolled in the plan or
30        coverage.
31        (3)  Construction.  For purposes of paragraph (1),  rules
32    for eligibility to enroll under a plan include rules defining
33    any applicable waiting periods for such enrollment.
34        (B)  In premium contributions.
SB802 Enrolled              -19-              LRB9002422JSdvA
 1        (1)  In  general.   A  group  health  plan,  and a health
 2    insurance  issuer  offering  health  insurance  coverage   in
 3    connection  with  a  group  health  plan, may not require any
 4    individual  (as  a  condition  of  enrollment  or   continued
 5    enrollment  under  the plan) to pay a premium or contribution
 6    which is greater than such  premium  or  contribution  for  a
 7    similarly  situated  individual  enrolled  in the plan on the
 8    basis of any health status-related factor in relation to  the
 9    individual  or  to an individual enrolled under the plan as a
10    dependent of the individual.
11        (2)  Construction.  Nothing in  paragraph  (1)  shall  be
12    construed:
13             (a)  to  restrict the amount that an employer may be
14        charged for coverage under a group health plan; or
15             (b)  to prevent a group health plan,  and  a  health
16        insurance   issuer   offering   group   health  insurance
17        coverage, from establishing premium discounts or  rebates
18        or   modifying   otherwise   applicable   copayments   or
19        deductibles in return for adherence to programs of health
20        promotion and disease prevention.
21        Section  30.   Guaranteed  renewability  of  coverage for
22    employers in the group market.
23        (A)  In general.  Except as provided in this Section,  if
24    a health insurance issuer offers health insurance coverage in
25    the  small  or  large group market in connection with a group
26    health plan, the issuer must renew or continue in force  such
27    coverage at the option of the plan sponsor of the plan.
28        (B)  General  exceptions.   A health insurance issuer may
29    nonrenew or discontinue health insurance coverage offered  in
30    connection  with  a  group  health plan in the small or large
31    group market based only on one or more of the following:
32        (1)  Nonpayment of premiums.  The plan sponsor has failed
33    to pay premiums or contributions in accordance with the terms
SB802 Enrolled              -20-              LRB9002422JSdvA
 1    of the health  insurance  coverage  or  the  issuer  has  not
 2    received timely premium payments.
 3        (2)  Fraud.   The  plan  sponsor  has performed an act or
 4    practice  that  constitutes  fraud  or  made  an  intentional
 5    misrepresentation of material fact under  the  terms  of  the
 6    coverage.
 7        (3)  Violation  of  participation  or contribution rules.
 8    The plan sponsor has failed to comply with  a  material  plan
 9    provision   relating   to   employer  contribution  or  group
10    participation rules, as permitted under Section 40(D) in  the
11    case  of  the  small  group  market or pursuant to applicable
12    State law in the case of the large group market.
13        (4)  Termination of coverage.  The issuer is  ceasing  to
14    offer  coverage  in such market in accordance with subsection
15    (C) and applicable State law.
16        (5)  Movement outside service area.  In  the  case  of  a
17    health insurance issuer that offers health insurance coverage
18    in  the market through a network plan, there is no longer any
19    enrollee in connection with such plan who lives, resides,  or
20    works  in  the service area of the issuer (or in the area for
21    which the issuer is authorized to do business)  and,  in  the
22    case  of  the  small  group  market,  the  issuer  would deny
23    enrollment  with  respect  to   such   plan   under   Section
24    40(C)(1)(a).
25        (6)  Association  membership  ceases.   In  the  case  of
26    health insurance coverage that is made available in the small
27    or  large  group market (as the case may be) only through one
28    or more bona fide association, the membership of an  employer
29    in  the  association  (on  the basis of which the coverage is
30    provided) ceases but only  if  such  coverage  is  terminated
31    under  this  paragraph uniformly without regard to any health
32    status-related factor relating to any covered individual.
33        (C)  Requirements for uniform termination of coverage.
34        (1)  Particular type of coverage  not  offered.   In  any
SB802 Enrolled              -21-              LRB9002422JSdvA
 1    case  in  which  an  issuer decides to discontinue offering a
 2    particular type of group health insurance coverage offered in
 3    the small or large group market, coverage of such type may be
 4    discontinued by the  issuer  in  accordance  with  applicable
 5    State law in such market only if:
 6             (a)  the issuer provides notice to each plan sponsor
 7        provided  coverage  of  this  type  in  such  market (and
 8        participants  and  beneficiaries   covered   under   such
 9        coverage)  of such discontinuation at least 90 days prior
10        to the date of the discontinuation of such coverage;
11             (b)  the issuer offers to each plan sponsor provided
12        coverage of this type  in  such  market,  the  option  to
13        purchase  all (or, in the case of the large group market,
14        any) other  health  insurance  coverage  currently  being
15        offered  by  the  issuer  to  a group health plan in such
16        market; and
17             (c)  in  exercising  the   option   to   discontinue
18        coverage  of  this  type  and  in  offering the option of
19        coverage  under  subparagraph  (b),   the   issuer   acts
20        uniformly  without  regard  to  the  claims experience of
21        those  sponsors  or  any  health  status-related   factor
22        relating  to  any  participants  or beneficiaries who may
23        become eligible for such coverage.
24        (2)  Discontinuance of all coverage.
25             (a)  In general.  In any  case  in  which  a  health
26        insurance  issuer  elects  to  discontinue  offering  all
27        health  insurance  coverage  in the small group market or
28        the large group market, or  both  markets,  in  Illinois,
29        health  insurance  coverage  may  be  discontinued by the
30        issuer only in accordance with Illinois law and if:
31                  (i)  the  issuer   provides   notice   to   the
32             Department   and   to   each   plan   sponsor   (and
33             participants  and  beneficiaries  covered under such
34             coverage) of such discontinuation at least 180  days
SB802 Enrolled              -22-              LRB9002422JSdvA
 1             prior  to  the  date  of the discontinuation of such
 2             coverage; and
 3                  (ii)  all health insurance issued or  delivered
 4             for issuance in Illinois in such market (or markets)
 5             are  discontinued  and  coverage  under  such health
 6             insurance coverage in such market  (or  markets)  is
 7             not renewed.
 8        (b)  Prohibition  on  market  reentry.   In the case of a
 9    discontinuation under  subparagraph  (a)  in  a  market,  the
10    issuer  may  not  provide  for  the  issuance  of  any health
11    insurance coverage in the Illinois market involved during the
12    5-year period beginning on the date of the discontinuation of
13    the last health insurance coverage not so renewed.
14        (D)  Exception for uniform modification of coverage.   At
15    the  time  of coverage renewal, a health insurance issuer may
16    modify the health insurance coverage for a product offered to
17    a group health plan:
18        (1)  in the large group market; or
19        (2)  in the small group market if, for coverage  that  is
20    available  in such market other than only through one or more
21    bona fide associations, such modification is consistent  with
22    State law and effective on a uniform basis among group health
23    plans with that product.
24        (E)  Application   to   coverage   offered  only  through
25    associations.  In applying this Section in the case of health
26    insurance  coverage  that  is  made  available  by  a  health
27    insurance issuer in  the  small  or  large  group  market  to
28    employers  only through one or more associations, a reference
29    to  "plan  sponsor"  is  deemed,  with  respect  to  coverage
30    provided to an employer member of the association, to include
31    a reference to such employer.
32        Section 35.  Disclosure of Information.
33        (A)  Disclosure of information by  health  plan  issuers.
SB802 Enrolled              -23-              LRB9002422JSdvA
 1    In  connection  with  the  offering  of  any health insurance
 2    coverage to a small employer, a health insurance issuer:
 3        (1)  shall make a reasonable disclosure to such employer,
 4    as part of its  solicitation  and  sales  materials,  of  the
 5    availability of information described in subsection (B), and
 6        (2)  upon  request of such a small employer, provide such
 7    information.
 8        (B)  Information described.
 9        (1)  In general.  Subject to paragraph (3), with  respect
10    to  a  health  insurance  issuer  offering  health  insurance
11    coverage  to  a small employer, information described in this
12    subsection is information concerning:
13             (a)  the  provisions  of  such  coverage  concerning
14        issuer's right to change premium rates  and  the  factors
15        that may affect changes in premium rates;
16             (b)  the  provisions  of  such  coverage relating to
17        renewability of coverage;
18             (c)  the provisions of such coverage relating to any
19        pre-existing condition exclusion; and
20             (d)  the benefits and premiums available  under  all
21        health  insurance  coverage  for  which  the  employer is
22        qualified.
23        (2)  Form  of  information.    Information   under   this
24    subsection  shall  be provided to small employers in a manner
25    determined  to  be  understandable  by  the   average   small
26    employer,  and shall be sufficient to reasonably inform small
27    employers of their rights and obligations  under  the  health
28    insurance coverage.
29        (3)  Exception.   An  issuer  is  not required under this
30    Section to disclose any information that is  proprietary  and
31    trade secret information under applicable law.
32        Section  40.   Guaranteed  availability  of  coverage for
33    employers in the group market.
SB802 Enrolled              -24-              LRB9002422JSdvA
 1        (A)  Issuance of coverage in the small group market.
 2        (1)  In general.  Subject to subsections (C) through (F),
 3    each health insurance issuer  that  offers  health  insurance
 4    coverage in the small group market in a State:
 5             (a)  must accept every small employer (as defined in
 6        Section  10) in the State that applies for such coverage;
 7        and
 8             (b)  must accept for enrollment under such  coverage
 9        every  eligible  individual (as defined in paragraph (2))
10        who applies for enrollment during the period in which the
11        individual first becomes eligible  to  enroll  under  the
12        terms  of  the  group  health  plan and may not place any
13        restriction which is inconsistent with Section 25  on  an
14        eligible individual being a participant or beneficiary.
15        (2)  Eligible  individual  defined.  For purposes of this
16    Section, the term "eligible individual" means,  with  respect
17    to  a  health  insurance  issuer that offers health insurance
18    coverage to a small  employer  in  connection  with  a  group
19    health  plan in the small group market, such an individual in
20    relation to the employer as shall be determined:
21             (a)  in accordance with the terms of such plan;
22             (b)  as provided by the issuer under  rules  of  the
23        issuer which are uniformly applicable in a State to small
24        employers in the small group market; and
25             (c)  in  accordance  with  all applicable State laws
26        governing such issuer and such market.
27        (B)  Special rules for network plans.
28        (1)  In general.  In  the  case  of  a  health  insurance
29    issuer  that  offers  health  insurance coverage in the small
30    group market through a network plan, the issuer may:
31             (a)  limit the employers that  may  apply  for  such
32        coverage  to  those  with  eligible individuals who live,
33        work, or reside in the  service  area  for  such  network
34        plan; and
SB802 Enrolled              -25-              LRB9002422JSdvA
 1             (b)  within the service area of such plan, deny such
 2        coverage   to   such   employers   if   the   issuer  has
 3        demonstrated, if required, to the Department that:
 4                  (i)  it will not have the capacity  to  deliver
 5             services  adequately  to enrollees of any additional
 6             groups because of its obligations to existing  group
 7             contract holders and enrollees; and
 8                  (ii) it is applying this paragraph uniformly to
 9             all   employers   without   regard   to  the  claims
10             experience of those employers  and  their  employees
11             (and  their dependents) or any health status-related
12             factor relating to such employees and dependents.
13        (2)  180-day suspension  upon  denial  of  coverage.   An
14    issuer, upon denying health insurance coverage in any service
15    area  in  accordance  with  paragraph  (1)(b),  may not offer
16    coverage in the small group market within such  service  area
17    for  a  period  of  180  days after the date such coverage is
18    denied.
19        (C)  Application of financial capacity limits.
20        (1)  In general.  A  health  insurance  issuer  may  deny
21    health  insurance  coverage  in the small group market if the
22    issuer has demonstrated, if required, to the Department:
23             (a)  it  does  not  have  the   financial   capacity
24        necessary to underwrite additional coverage; and
25             (b)  it  is applying this paragraph uniformly to all
26        employers in the small group  market  in  the  State  and
27        without   regard   to  the  claims  experience  of  those
28        employers and their employees (and their  dependents)  or
29        any   health   status-related  factor  relating  to  such
30        employees and dependents.
31        (2)  180-day  suspension  upon  denial  of  coverage.   A
32    health  insurance  issuer  upon  denying   health   insurance
33    coverage  in connection with group health plans in accordance
34    with paragraph (1) may not offer coverage in connection  with
SB802 Enrolled              -26-              LRB9002422JSdvA
 1    group  health plans in the small group market for a period of
 2    180 days after the date such coverage is denied or until  the
 3    issuer has demonstrated to the Department that the issuer has
 4    sufficient   financial   capacity  to  underwrite  additional
 5    coverage, whichever is later. The Department may provide  for
 6    the application of this subsection on a service-area-specific
 7    basis.
 8        (D)  Exception to requirement for failure to meet certain
 9    minimum participation or contribution rules.
10        (1)  In  general.   Subsection (A) shall not be construed
11    to preclude  a  health  insurance  issuer  from  establishing
12    employer  contribution rules or group participation rules for
13    the offering of health insurance coverage in connection  with
14    a group health plan in the small group market.
15        (2)  Rules defined.  For purposes of paragraph (1):
16             (a)  the  term  "employer contribution rule" means a
17        requirement relating to the minimum level  or  amount  of
18        employer  contribution  toward the premium for enrollment
19        of participants and beneficiaries; and
20             (b)  the term "group  participation  rule"  means  a
21        requirement   relating   to   the   minimum   number   of
22        participants  or  beneficiaries  that must be enrolled in
23        relation to a specified percentage or number of  eligible
24        individuals or employees of an employer.
25        (E)  Exception  for  coverage  offered  only to bona fide
26    association members.   Subsection  (A)  shall  not  apply  to
27    health  insurance  coverage  offered  by  a  health insurance
28    issuer if such coverage is made available in the small  group
29    market  only  through  one or more bona fide associations (as
30    defined in Section 10).
31        Section 45.  Exclusion of certain plans.
32        (A)  Exception for certain small group health plans.  The
33    requirements of this Act shall not apply to any group  health
SB802 Enrolled              -27-              LRB9002422JSdvA
 1    plan  (and  health  insurance  coverage offered in connection
 2    with a group health plan) for any plan year if, on the  first
 3    day of such plan year, such plan has less than 2 participants
 4    who are current employees.
 5        (B)  Limitation  on application of provisions relating to
 6    group health plans.
 7        (1)  In general.  The  requirements  of  this  Act  shall
 8    apply with respect to group health plans only:
 9             (a)  subject to paragraph (2), in the case of a plan
10        that is a nonfederal governmental plan; and
11             (b)  with   respect  to  health  insurance  coverage
12        offered in connection with a group health plan (including
13        such a plan that is  a  church  plan  or  a  governmental
14        plan).
15        (2)  Treatment of nonfederal governmental plans.
16             (a)  Election  to  be excluded.  If the plan sponsor
17        of a nonfederal governmental plan which is a group health
18        plan to which the provisions of this Act otherwise  apply
19        makes  an  election under this subparagraph (in such form
20        and manner as  may  be  prescribed  by  rule),  then  the
21        requirements  of  this Act insofar as they apply directly
22        to group health plans (and not  merely  to  group  health
23        insurance  coverage) shall not apply to such governmental
24        plans  for  such  period  except  as  provided  in   this
25        paragraph.
26             (b)  Period   of   election.    An   election  under
27        subparagraph (a) shall apply:
28                  (i)  for a single specified plan year; or
29                  (ii) in the case of a plan provided pursuant to
30             a collective bargaining agreement, for the  term  of
31             such agreement.
32             An election under clause (i) may be extended through
33        subsequent elections under this paragraph.
34             (c)  Notice  to  enrollees.  Under such an election,
SB802 Enrolled              -28-              LRB9002422JSdvA
 1        the plan shall provide for:
 2                  (i)  notice to enrollees (on  an  annual  basis
 3             and at the time of enrollment under the plan) of the
 4             fact and consequences of such election; and
 5                  (ii) certification and disclosure of creditable
 6             coverage under the plan with respect to enrollees in
 7             accordance with Section 20(E).
 8        (C)  Exception for certain benefits.  The requirements of
 9    this  Act  shall not apply to any group health plan (or group
10    health insurance coverage) in relation to  its  provision  of
11    excepted benefits described in Section 20(C)(2)(a).
12        (D)  Exception for certain benefits if certain conditions
13    met.
14        (1)  Limited,  excepted  benefits.   The  requirements of
15    this Act shall not apply to any group health plan (and  group
16    health  insurance coverage offered in connection with a group
17    health  plan)  in  relation  to  its  provision  of  excepted
18    benefits described in Section 20(C)(2)(b) if the benefits:
19             (a)  are   provided   under   a   separate   policy,
20        certificate, or contract of insurance; or
21             (b)  are otherwise not an integral part of the plan.
22        (2)  Noncoordinated, excepted benefits.  The requirements
23    of this Act shall not apply to any  group  health  plan  (and
24    group  health insurance coverage offered in connection with a
25    group health plan) in relation to its provision  of  excepted
26    benefits  described  in  Section  20(C)(2)(c)  if  all of the
27    following conditions are met:
28             (a)  The benefits  are  provided  under  a  separate
29        policy, certificate, or contract of insurance.
30             (b)  There  is no coordination between the provision
31        of such benefits and any exclusion of benefits under  any
32        group health plan maintained by the same plan sponsor.
33             (c)  Such benefits are paid with respect to an event
34        without  regard  to  whether  benefits  are provided with
SB802 Enrolled              -29-              LRB9002422JSdvA
 1        respect to such an event  under  any  group  health  plan
 2        maintained by the same plan sponsor.
 3        (3)  Supplemental excepted benefits.  The requirements of
 4    this  Act shall not apply to any group health plan (and group
 5    health insurance coverage) in relation to  its  provision  of
 6    excepted  benefits  described  in  Section 20(C)(2)(d) if the
 7    benefits are provided under a separate  policy,  certificate,
 8    or contract of insurance.
 9        (E)  Treatment  of  partnerships.   For  purposes of this
10    Act:
11        (1)  Treatment as a group health plan.  Any  plan,  fund,
12    or  program  which  would not be (but for this subsection) an
13    employee welfare benefit plan and  which  is  established  or
14    maintained  by  a  partnership, to the extent that such plan,
15    fund, or program provides medical care (including  items  and
16    services  paid  for  as  medical  care)  to present or former
17    partners in  the  partnership  or  to  their  dependents  (as
18    defined  under  the  terms  of  the  plan, fund, or program),
19    directly or through insurance, reimbursement,  or  otherwise,
20    shall  be  treated  (subject to paragraph (2)) as an employee
21    welfare benefit plan which is a group health plan.
22        (2)  Employer.  In the case of a group health  plan,  the
23    term  "employer" also includes the partnership in relation to
24    any partner.
25        (3)  Partnerships of group health plans.  In the case  of
26    a group health plan, the term "participant" also includes:
27             (a)  in   connection   with   a  group  health  plan
28        maintained by a  partnership,  an  individual  who  is  a
29        partner in relation to the partnership, or
30             (b)  in   connection   with   a  group  health  plan
31        maintained by a self-employed individual (under which one
32        or more employees are  participants),  the  self-employed
33        individual,  if such individual is or may become eligible
34        to receive a benefit under the plan or  the  individual's
SB802 Enrolled              -30-              LRB9002422JSdvA
 1        beneficiaries may be eligible for any benefit.
 2        Section  85.   The  Illinois Insurance Code is amended by
 3    adding Section 155.31 as follows:
 4        (215 ILCS 5/155.31 new)
 5        Sec. 155.31.  Illinois Health Insurance  Portability  and
 6    Accountability  Act.  The provisions of this Code are subject
 7    to   the   Illinois   Health   Insurance   Portability    and
 8    Accountability Act as provided in Section 15 of that Act.
 9        (215 ILCS 95/1 rep.)
10        (215 ILCS 95/5 rep.)
11        (215 ILCS 95/10 rep.)
12        (215 ILCS 95/15 rep.)
13        (215 ILCS 95/20 rep.)
14        (215 ILCS 95/55 rep.)
15        Section  86.  The Small Employer Rating, Renewability and
16    Portability Health Insurance  Act  is  amended  by  repealing
17    Sections 1, 5, 10, 15, 20, and 55 on July 1, 1998.
18        (215 ILCS 95/25 rep.)
19        (215 ILCS 95/30 rep.)
20        (215 ILCS 95/35 rep.)
21        (215 ILCS 95/40 rep.)
22        (215 ILCS 95/45 rep.)
23        (215 ILCS 95/50 rep.)
24        Section  87.  The Small Employer Rating, Renewability and
25    Portability Health Insurance  Act  is  amended  by  repealing
26    Sections 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, and 50.
27        Section  92.  The Comprehensive Health Insurance Plan Act
28    is amended by changing Sections 1.1, 2, 3, 4, 5,  7,  8,  10,
29    12, and 14 and adding Sections 7.1 and 15 as follows:
SB802 Enrolled              -31-              LRB9002422JSdvA
 1        (215 ILCS 105/1.1) (from Ch. 73, par. 1301.1)
 2        Sec.   1.1.    The  General  Assembly  hereby  makes  the
 3    following findings and declarations:
 4        (a)  The   Comprehensive   Health   Insurance   Plan   is
 5    established as a State program that is intended to provide an
 6    alternate market for health insurance for certain uninsurable
 7    eligible Illinois  residents,  such  insurance  being  funded
 8    primarily by premiums paid by eligible resident policyholders
 9    and  further is intended to provide an acceptable alternative
10    mechanism  as  described  in  the  federal  Health  Insurance
11    Portability and Accountability  Act  of  1996  for  providing
12    portable  and accessible individual health insurance coverage
13    for federally eligible individuals as defined in this Act.;
14        (b)  The State of Illinois  may  subsidize  the  cost  of
15    health  insurance  coverage  policies  offered  by  the Plan.
16    However, since  the  State  has  only  a  limited  amount  of
17    resources,  the General Assembly declares that it intends for
18    this program to provide portable  and  accessible  individual
19    health   insurance  coverage  for  every  federally  eligible
20    individual who qualifies  for  coverage  in  accordance  with
21    Section  15  of  this  Act,  but  does  not  intend for every
22    eligible person who qualifies for Plan coverage in accordance
23    with Section 7 of this Act resident to be guaranteed a  right
24    to  be  issued  a  policy  under  this  Plan  as  a matter of
25    entitlement.; and
26        (c)  The Comprehensive Health Insurance Plan Board  shall
27    operate  the  Plan  in a manner so that the estimated cost of
28    the program providing health insurance during any fiscal year
29    will not exceed the total income it expects to  receive  from
30    policy  premiums,  investment  income,  assessments,  or fees
31    collected or received by the Board and other and funds  which
32    are  made  available  from appropriations for the Plan by the
33    General Assembly for that fiscal year.  After determining the
34    amount that it has had appropriated for the fiscal year,  the
SB802 Enrolled              -32-              LRB9002422JSdvA
 1    Board  shall  estimate  the  number  of  new policies that it
 2    believes it has the financial capacity to issue  during  that
 3    year  so  that  total  costs do not exceed income.  The Board
 4    shall take steps necessary to  assure  that  plan  enrollment
 5    does  not  exceed the number of residents it estimates it has
 6    the financial capacity to insure.
 7    (Source: P.A. 87-560.)
 8        (215 ILCS 105/2) (from Ch. 73, par. 1302)
 9        Sec. 2.  Definitions.  As used in this  Act,  unless  the
10    context otherwise requires:
11        "Plan  administrator"  "Administering  carrier" means the
12    insurer or third party administrator designated under Section
13    5 of this Act.
14        "Benefits plan" means the coverage to be offered  by  the
15    Plan  to  eligible persons and federally eligible individuals
16    pursuant to this Act.
17        "Board" means the Illinois Comprehensive Health Insurance
18    Board.
19        "Church plan" has the same meaning given that term in the
20    federal Health Insurance Portability and  Accountability  Act
21    of 1996.
22        "Continuation  coverage"  means  continuation of coverage
23    under a group health plan or other health insurance  coverage
24    for  former  employees or dependents of former employees that
25    would otherwise have  terminated  under  the  terms  of  that
26    coverage   pursuant  to  any  continuation  provisions  under
27    federal or State  law,  including  the  Consolidated  Omnibus
28    Budget  Reconciliation  Act  of  1985  (COBRA),  as  amended,
29    Sections  367.2  and  367e of the Illinois Insurance Code, or
30    any other similar requirement in another State.
31        "Covered person" means a person who is and  continues  to
32    remain eligible for Plan coverage and is covered under one of
33    the benefit plans offered by the Plan.
SB802 Enrolled              -33-              LRB9002422JSdvA
 1        "Creditable  coverage" means, with respect to a federally
 2    eligible individual, coverage of the individual under any  of
 3    the following:
 4        (A)  A group health plan.
 5        (B)  Health  insurance  coverage  (including group health
 6    insurance coverage).
 7        (C)  Medicare.
 8        (D)  Medical assistance.
 9        (E)  Chapter 55 of title 10, United States Code.
10        (F)  A medical care program of the Indian Health  Service
11    or of a tribal organization.
12        (G)  A state health benefits risk pool.
13        (H)  A  health  plan offered under Chapter 89 of title 5,
14    United States Code.
15        (I)  A public health  plan  (as  defined  in  regulations
16    consistent  with  Section  104 of the Health Care Portability
17    and Accountability Act of 1996 that may be promulgated by the
18    Secretary  of  the  U.S.  Department  of  Health  and   Human
19    Services).
20        (J)  A  health  benefit  plan  under  Section 5(e) of the
21    Peace Corps Act (22 U.S.C. 2504(e)).
22        (K)  Any  other  qualifying  coverage  required  by   the
23    federal  Health  Insurance Portability and Accountability Act
24    of 1996, as it may be amended, or regulations under that Act.
25        "Creditable   coverage"   does   not   include   coverage
26    consisting  solely  of  coverage  of  excepted  benefits  (as
27    defined in Section 2791(c)  of  title  XXVII  of  the  Public
28    Health  Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300 gg-91) nor does it include
29    any period of coverage under any of  items  (A)  through  (K)
30    that  occurred before a break of more than 63 days during all
31    of which the individual was not covered under  any  of  items
32    (A) through (K) above.  Any period that an individual is in a
33    waiting period for any coverage under a group health plan (or
34    for  group health insurance coverage) or is in an affiliation
SB802 Enrolled              -34-              LRB9002422JSdvA
 1    period under the terms of health insurance  coverage  offered
 2    by  a health maintenance organization shall not be taken into
 3    account in determining if there has been a break of more than
 4    63 days in any credible coverage.
 5        "Department" means the Illinois Department of Insurance.
 6        "Dependent" means an Illinois resident: who is a  spouse;
 7    or who is claimed as a dependent by the principal insured for
 8    purposes of filing a federal income tax return and resides in
 9    the   principal   insured's  household,  and  is  a  resident
10    unmarried child under the age of  19  years;  or  who  is  an
11    unmarried child who also is a full-time student under the age
12    of  23  years  and  who  is  financially  dependent  upon the
13    principal insured; or who is a child of any age  and  who  is
14    disabled   and   financially  dependent  upon  the  principal
15    insured.
16        "Direct Illinois premiums" means, for Illinois  business,
17    an  insurer's direct premium income for the kinds of business
18    described in clause (b) of Class 1 or clause (a) of  Class  2
19    of  Section  4  of  the  Illinois  Insurance Code, and direct
20    premium income of a  health  maintenance  organization  or  a
21    voluntary  health  services plan, except it shall not include
22    credit health insurance as defined in Article IX 1/2  of  the
23    Illinois Insurance Code.
24        "Director"  means the Director of the Illinois Department
25    of Insurance.
26        "Eligible person" means a  resident  of  this  State  who
27    qualifies for Plan coverage under Section 7 of this Act.
28        "Employee" means a resident of this State who is employed
29    by an employer or has entered into the employment of or works
30    under  contract  or  service  of  an  employer  including the
31    officers, managers and employees of subsidiary or  affiliated
32    corporations  and  the  individual  proprietors, partners and
33    employees  of  affiliated  individuals  and  firms  when  the
34    business of the subsidiary or affiliated corporations,  firms
SB802 Enrolled              -35-              LRB9002422JSdvA
 1    or  individuals  is  controlled  by a common employer through
 2    stock ownership, contract, or otherwise.
 3        "Employer"    means    any    individual,    partnership,
 4    association, corporation, business trust, or  any  person  or
 5    group  of  persons  acting  directly  or  indirectly  in  the
 6    interest of an employer in relation to an employee, for which
 7    one or more persons is gainfully employed.
 8        "Family" coverage means the coverage provided by the Plan
 9    for  the  covered  eligible  person  and  his or her eligible
10    dependents who also are covered  persons  legal  spouse,  the
11    eligible person's dependent children under the age of 19, the
12    eligible  person's dependent children under the age of 23 who
13    are  full-time  students,  the  eligible  person's  dependent
14    disabled children of any age, or  any  other  member  of  the
15    eligible  person's  family  who is claimed as a dependent for
16    purposes of filing federal income tax returns and resides  in
17    the eligible person's household.
18        "Federally   eligible  individual"  means  an  individual
19    resident of this State:
20        (1)(A)  for whom, as of the date on which the  individual
21    seeks  Plan  coverage  under  Section  15  of  this  Act, the
22    aggregate of the periods of creditable coverage is 18 or more
23    months, and (B) whose most recent prior  creditable  coverage
24    was under group health insurance coverage offered by a health
25    insurance  issuer,  a group health plan, a governmental plan,
26    or a church plan (or health  insurance  coverage  offered  in
27    connection  with  any  such  plans)  or  any  other  type  of
28    creditable  coverage  that  may  be  required  by the federal
29    Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of  1996,
30    as it may be amended, or the regulations under that Act;
31        (2)  who  is  not eligible for coverage under (A) a group
32    health plan, (B) part A or part B of Medicare, or (C) medical
33    assistance,  and  does  not  have  other   health   insurance
34    coverage;
SB802 Enrolled              -36-              LRB9002422JSdvA
 1        (3)  with respect to whom the most recent coverage within
 2    the  coverage  period  described  in paragraph (1)(A) of this
 3    definition was not terminated based upon a factor relating to
 4    nonpayment of premiums or fraud;
 5        (4)  if the individual had been  offered  the  option  of
 6    continuation coverage under a COBRA continuation provision or
 7    under a similar State program, who elected such coverage; and
 8        (5)  who,  if  the  individual  elected such continuation
 9    coverage, has exhausted such continuation coverage under such
10    provision or program.
11        "Group health plan" has the same meaning given that  term
12    in    the    federal   Health   Insurance   Portability   and
13    Accountability Act of 1996.
14        "Governmental plan" has the same meaning given that  term
15    in    the    federal   Health   Insurance   Portability   and
16    Accountability Act of 1996.
17        "Health insurance" means any hospital and,  surgical,  or
18    medical  coverage  provided under an expense-incurred policy,
19    certificate, or contract  provided  by  an  insurer,  minimum
20    premium  plan,  stop  loss  coverage,  non-profit health care
21    service plan contract,  health  maintenance  organization  or
22    other  subscriber  contract, or any other health care plan or
23    arrangement that pays for or furnishes medical or health care
24    services  by  a  provider  of  these  services,  whether   by
25    insurance  or  otherwise.  Health insurance shall not include
26    short  term,  accident  only,  disability  income,   hospital
27    confinement  or  fixed  indemnity,  dental only, vision only,
28    limited benefit, or credit insurance, coverage  issued  as  a
29    supplement to liability insurance, insurance arising out of a
30    workers'    compensation    or    similar   law,   automobile
31    medical-payment insurance, or insurance under which  benefits
32    are  payable  with  or  without  regard to fault and which is
33    statutorily  required  to  be  contained  in  any   liability
34    insurance policy or equivalent self-insurance.
SB802 Enrolled              -37-              LRB9002422JSdvA
 1        "Health  insurance coverage" means benefits consisting of
 2    medical  care  (provided  directly,  through   insurance   or
 3    reimbursement,  or otherwise and including items and services
 4    paid for as medical  care)  under  any  hospital  or  medical
 5    service  policy  or  certificate, hospital or medical service
 6    plan contract, or health  maintenance  organization  contract
 7    offered by a health insurance issuer.
 8        "Health  insurance  issuer"  means  an insurance company,
 9    insurance service, or  insurance  organization  (including  a
10    health   maintenance  organization  and  a  voluntary  health
11    services  plan)  that  is  authorized  to   transact   health
12    insurance business in this State.  Such term does not include
13    a group health plan.
14        "Health  Maintenance  Organization" means an organization
15    as defined in the Health Maintenance Organization Act.
16        "Hospice" means a program  as  defined  in  and  licensed
17    under the Hospice Program Licensing Act.
18        "Hospital"  means  a  duly  licensed  an  institution  as
19    defined  in  the  Hospital Licensing Act, an institution that
20    meets all comparable conditions and requirements in effect in
21    the state in which  it  is  located,  or  the  University  of
22    Illinois  Hospital  as  defined in the University of Illinois
23    Hospital Act.
24        "Individual  health  insurance  coverage"  means   health
25    insurance  coverage  offered to individuals in the individual
26    market, but does  not  include  short-term,  limited-duration
27    insurance.
28        "Insured" means any individual resident of this State who
29    is  eligible  to receive benefits from any insurer (including
30    health insurance coverage offered in connection with a  group
31    health  plan)  or  health  insurance  issuer  arrangement  as
32    defined in this Section.
33        "Insurer"  means  any  insurance  company  authorized  to
34    transact  health  insurance  business  in  this State and any
SB802 Enrolled              -38-              LRB9002422JSdvA
 1    corporation that provides medical services and  is  organized
 2    under  the  Voluntary Health Services Plans Act or the Health
 3    Maintenance Organization Act.
 4        "Medical assistance" means the State  medical  assistance
 5    or  medical  assistance  no grant (MANG) programs health care
 6    benefits provided under Title XIX of the Social Security  Act
 7    and   Articles   V   (Medical  Assistance)  and  VI  (General
 8    Assistance) of the Illinois Public Aid Code (or any successor
 9    program) or under any similar program of health care benefits
10    in a state other than Illinois.
11        "Medically necessary" means  that  a  service,  drug,  or
12    supply  is  necessary  and  appropriate  for the diagnosis or
13    treatment of an illness or injury in  accord  with  generally
14    accepted  standards  of  medical  practice  at  the  time the
15    service, drug,  or  supply  is  provided.  When  specifically
16    applied  to a confinement it further means that the diagnosis
17    or treatment of the covered insured person's medical symptoms
18    or condition cannot be safely provided to that person  as  an
19    outpatient. A service, drug, or supply shall not be medically
20    necessary if it: (i) is investigational, experimental, or for
21    research  purposes;  or  (ii)  is  provided  solely  for  the
22    convenience  of the patient, the patient's family, physician,
23    hospital, or any other provider; or (iii) exceeds  in  scope,
24    duration,  or  intensity that level of care that is needed to
25    provide  safe,  adequate,  and   appropriate   diagnosis   or
26    treatment;  or (iv) could have been omitted without adversely
27    affecting the  covered  insured  person's  condition  or  the
28    quality of medical care; or (v) involves the use of a medical
29    device,  drug,  or  substance  not  formally  approved by the
30    United States Food and Drug Administration.
31        "Medical care" means the ordinary and usual  professional
32    services  rendered by a physician or other specified provider
33    during a professional visit for treatment of  an  illness  or
34    injury.
SB802 Enrolled              -39-              LRB9002422JSdvA
 1        "Medicare" means coverage under both Part A and Part B of
 2    Title  XVIII of the Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. Sec. 1395,
 3    et seq..
 4        "Minimum premium plan" means  an  arrangement  whereby  a
 5    specified  amount  of  health care claims is self-funded, but
 6    the insurance company  assumes  the  risk  that  claims  will
 7    exceed that amount.
 8        "Participating   transplant   center"  means  a  hospital
 9    designated by the Board as a preferred or exclusive  provider
10    of  services  for one or more specified human organ or tissue
11    transplants for which the hospital has  signed  an  agreement
12    with  the  Board to accept a transplant payment allowance for
13    all expenses related to the transplant  during  a  transplant
14    benefit period.
15        "Physician"  means a person licensed to practice medicine
16    pursuant to the Medical Practice Act of 1987.
17        "Plan" means  the  Comprehensive  Health  Insurance  Plan
18    established by this Act.
19        "Plan  of  operation"  means the plan of operation of the
20    Plan, including articles, bylaws and operating rules, adopted
21    by the board pursuant to this Act.
22        "Provider" means any hospital, skilled nursing  facility,
23    hospice, home health agency, physician, registered pharmacist
24    acting  within  the  scope of that registration, or any other
25    person or entity licensed  in  Illinois  to  furnish  medical
26    care.
27        "Qualified  high  risk  pool"  has the same meaning given
28    that term in the federal  Health  Insurance  Portability  and
29    Accountability Act of 1996.
30        "Resident  eligible  person"  means a person who has been
31    legally domiciled in this State for a period of at least  180
32    days and continues to be domiciled in this State.
33        "Skilled  nursing  facility"  means  a  facility  or that
34    portion of a  facility  that  is  licensed  by  the  Illinois
SB802 Enrolled              -40-              LRB9002422JSdvA
 1    Department  of  Public Health under the Nursing Home Care Act
 2    or a comparable  licensing  authority  in  another  state  to
 3    provide skilled nursing care.
 4        "Stop-loss  coverage"  means  an  arrangement  whereby an
 5    insurer insures against the risk  that  any  one  claim  will
 6    exceed  a specific dollar amount or that the entire loss of a
 7    self-insurance plan will exceed a specific amount.
 8        "Third party administrator"  means  an  administrator  as
 9    defined in Section 511.101 of the Illinois Insurance Code who
10    is licensed under Article XXXI 1/4 of that Code.
11    (Source: P.A. 87-560; 88-364.)
12        (215 ILCS 105/3) (from Ch. 73, par. 1303)
13        Sec. 3.  Operation of the Plan.
14        a.   There  is  hereby  created an Illinois Comprehensive
15    Health Insurance Plan.
16        b.  The Plan shall operate subject to the supervision and
17    control of the board.  The board is created  as  a  political
18    subdivision  and  body politic and corporate and, as such, is
19    not a State agency.  The board shall  consist  of  10  public
20    members,  appointed  by  the  Governor  with  the  advice and
21    consent of the Senate.
22        Initial members shall be appointed to the  Board  by  the
23    Governor  as  follows: 2 members to serve until July 1, 1988,
24    and until their successors are  appointed  and  qualified;  2
25    members  to  serve  until  July  1,  1989,  and  until  their
26    successors  are  appointed  and qualified; 3 members to serve
27    until July 1, 1990, and until their successors are  appointed
28    and qualified; and 3 members to serve until July 1, 1991, and
29    until  their successors are appointed and qualified. As terms
30    of  initial  members  expire,  their  successors   shall   be
31    appointed  for  terms to expire the first day in July 3 years
32    thereafter, and until  their  successors  are  appointed  and
33    qualified.
SB802 Enrolled              -41-              LRB9002422JSdvA
 1        Any  vacancy  in the Board occurring for any reason other
 2    than the expiration  of  a  term  shall  be  filled  for  the
 3    unexpired   term   in   the   same  manner  as  the  original
 4    appointment.
 5        Any member of the Board may be removed  by  the  Governor
 6    for neglect of duty, misfeasance, malfeasance, or nonfeasance
 7    in office.
 8        In addition, a representative of the Illinois Health Care
 9    Cost  Containment  Council, a representative of the Office of
10    the Attorney General  and  the  Director  or  the  Director's
11    designated  representative  shall  be  members  of the board.
12    Four members of the General Assembly, one each  appointed  by
13    the  President  and  Minority Leader of the Senate and by the
14    Speaker and Minority Leader of the House of  Representatives,
15    shall serve as nonvoting members of the board.  At least 2 of
16    the  public  members shall be individuals reasonably expected
17    to qualify for coverage under the Plan, the parent or  spouse
18    of  such  an  individual,  or a surviving family member of an
19    individual who could have qualified for the plan  during  his
20    lifetime.  The Director or Director's representative shall be
21    the chairperson of the board.  Members  of  the  board  shall
22    receive   no   compensation,  but  shall  be  reimbursed  for
23    reasonable expenses incurred in the necessary performance  of
24    their duties.
25        c.  The  board  shall  make an annual report in September
26    and shall file the report with the Secretary  of  the  Senate
27    and  the  Clerk  of the House of Representatives.  The report
28    shall summarize the activities of the Plan in  the  preceding
29    calendar year, including net written and earned premiums, the
30    expense  of  administration, the paid and incurred losses for
31    the year and other information as may  be  requested  by  the
32    General  Assembly. The report shall also include analysis and
33    recommendations   regarding   utilization   review,   quality
34    assurance and access to cost effective quality health care.
SB802 Enrolled              -42-              LRB9002422JSdvA
 1        d.  In its plan of operation the board shall:
 2             (1)  Establish  procedures  for  selecting  a   plan
 3        administrator an administering carrier in accordance with
 4        Section 5 of this Act.
 5             (2)  Establish  procedures  for the operation of the
 6        board.
 7             (3)  Create a Plan fund,  under  management  of  the
 8        board,  to fund administrative, claim, and other expenses
 9        of the Plan.
10             (4)  Establish  procedures  for  the  handling   and
11        accounting of assets and monies of the Plan.
12             (5)  Develop  and  implement  a program to publicize
13        the existence of the Plan, the  eligibility  requirements
14        and  procedures  for  enrollment  and  to maintain public
15        awareness of the Plan.
16             (6)  Establish procedures under which applicants and
17        participants may have grievances reviewed by a  grievance
18        committee  appointed  by the board.  The grievances shall
19        be reported to the board immediately after completion  of
20        the  review.   The  Department and the board shall retain
21        all written complaints regarding the Plan for at least  3
22        years.   Oral complaints shall be reduced to written form
23        and maintained for at least 3 years.
24             (7)  Provide for other matters as may  be  necessary
25        and  proper  for  the execution of its powers, duties and
26        obligations under the Plan.
27        e.  No later than 5 years after the Plan is operative the
28    board and the Department shall conduct cooperatively a  study
29    of the Plan and the persons insured by the Plan to determine:
30    (1)  claims  experience  including  a  breakdown  of  medical
31    conditions   for   which   claims   were  paid;  (2)  whether
32    availability of the Plan  affected  employment  opportunities
33    for  participants;  (3)  whether  availability  of  the  Plan
34    affected  the  receipt of medical assistance benefits by Plan
SB802 Enrolled              -43-              LRB9002422JSdvA
 1    participants; (4) whether a change occurred in the number  of
 2    personal  bankruptcies due to medical or other health related
 3    costs; (5) data regarding all complaints received  about  the
 4    Plan  including its operation and services; (6) and any other
 5    significant observations regarding utilization of  the  Plan.
 6    The study shall culminate in a written report to be presented
 7    to  the Governor, the President of the Senate, the Speaker of
 8    the House and  the  chairpersons  of  the  House  and  Senate
 9    Insurance  Committees.   The  report  shall be filed with the
10    Secretary of the  Senate  and  the  Clerk  of  the  House  of
11    Representatives.   The  report  shall  also  be  available to
12    members of the general public upon request.
13        f.  The board may:
14             (1)  Prepare   and   distribute    certificate    of
15        eligibility  forms  and  enrollment  instruction forms to
16        insurance producers and to the  general  public  in  this
17        State.
18             (2)  Provide  for  reinsurance  of risks incurred by
19        the Plan  and  enter  into  reinsurance  agreements  with
20        insurers  to  establish  a  reinsurance plan for risks of
21        coverage described in  the  Plan,  or  obtain  commercial
22        reinsurance to reduce the risk of loss through the Plan.
23             (3)  Issue  additional  types  of  health  insurance
24        policies  to  provide optional coverages as are otherwise
25        permitted by this Act  including  a  Medicare  supplement
26        policy designed to supplement Medicare.
27             (4)  Provide   for   and   employ  cost  containment
28        measures and requirements including, but not limited  to,
29        preadmission   certification,  second  surgical  opinion,
30        concurrent utilization review  programs,  and  individual
31        case  management  for the purpose of making the pool more
32        cost effective.
33             (5)  Design,  utilize,  or  contract,  or  otherwise
34        arrange for the delivery of cost  effective  health  care
SB802 Enrolled              -44-              LRB9002422JSdvA
 1        services,  including  establishing  or  contracting  with
 2        preferred  provider organizations, and health maintenance
 3        organizations,  and  other   limited   network   provider
 4        arrangements  otherwise  arrange for the delivery of cost
 5        effective health care services.
 6             (6)  Adopt bylaws, rules, regulations, policies  and
 7        procedures  as  may  be  necessary  or convenient for the
 8        implementation of the Act and the operation of the Plan.
 9             (7)  Administer separate pools,  separate  accounts,
10        or other plans or arrangements as required by this Act to
11        separate  federally  eligible  individuals  or  groups of
12        federally  eligible  individuals  who  qualify  for  plan
13        coverage under Section  15  of  this  Act  from  eligible
14        persons  or  groups  of  eligible persons who qualify for
15        plan coverage under Section 7 of this Act  and  apportion
16        the  costs  of  the  administration  among  such separate
17        pools, separate accounts, or other plans or arrangements.
18        g.  The  Director  may,  by  rule,  establish  additional
19    powers and duties of the board and may adopt  rules  for  any
20    other  purposes,  including the operation of the Plan, as are
21    necessary or proper to implement this Act.
22        h.  The board is not liable for  any  obligation  of  the
23    Plan.   There  is  no  liability on the part of any member or
24    employee of the board or the  Department,  and  no  cause  of
25    action  of  any nature may arise against them, for any action
26    taken or omission made by them in the  performance  of  their
27    powers  and  duties  under  this  Act,  unless  the action or
28    omission constitutes willful or wanton misconduct. The  board
29    may  provide  in  its bylaws or rules for indemnification of,
30    and legal representation for, its members and employees.
31        i.  There is no liability on the part  of  any  insurance
32    producer  for  the failure of any applicant to be accepted by
33    the Plan unless the failure of the applicant to  be  accepted
34    by  the  Plan  is  due to an act or omission by the insurance
SB802 Enrolled              -45-              LRB9002422JSdvA
 1    producer which constitutes willful or wanton misconduct.
 2    (Source: P.A. 86-547; 86-1322; 87-560.)
 3        (215 ILCS 105/4) (from Ch. 73, par. 1304)
 4        Sec. 4.  Powers and authority of the  board.   The  board
 5    shall have the general powers and authority granted under the
 6    laws  of  this  State  to  insurance  companies  licensed  to
 7    transact  health  and  accident  insurance  and  in  addition
 8    thereto, the specific authority to:
 9        a.  Enter  into  contracts  as are necessary or proper to
10    carry out the provisions and purposes of this Act,  including
11    the  authority,  with  the approval of the Director, to enter
12    into contracts with similar plans of  other  states  for  the
13    joint performance of common administrative functions, or with
14    persons   or  other  organizations  for  the  performance  of
15    administrative  functions  including,   without   limitation,
16    utilization  review  and  quality assurance programs, or with
17    health  maintenance  organizations  or   preferred   provider
18    organizations for the provision of health care services.
19        b.  Sue  or  be  sued, including taking any legal actions
20    necessary or proper.
21        c.  Take such legal action as necessary to:
22             (1)  avoid the payment of  improper  claims  against
23        the plan or the coverage provided by or through the plan;
24             (2)  to   recover   any   amounts   erroneously   or
25        improperly paid by the plan; or
26             (3)  to  recover  any  amounts paid by the plan as a
27        result of a mistake of fact or law; or.
28             (4)  to  recover  or  collect  any  other   amounts,
29        including  assessments,  that are due or owed the Plan or
30        have been billed on its or the Plan's behalf.
31        d.  Establish appropriate  rates,  rate  schedules,  rate
32    adjustments, expense allowances, agents' referral fees, claim
33    reserves,  and  formulas  and  any  other  actuarial function
SB802 Enrolled              -46-              LRB9002422JSdvA
 1    appropriate to the operation of the plan.  Rates shall not be
 2    unreasonable in relation to the coverage provided,  the  risk
 3    experience  and expenses of providing the coverage. Rates and
 4    rate schedules may be adjusted for appropriate  risk  factors
 5    such  as age and area variation in claim costs and shall take
 6    into consideration appropriate  risk  factors  in  accordance
 7    with established actuarial and underwriting practices.
 8        e.  Issue  policies  of  insurance in accordance with the
 9    requirements of this Act.
10        f.  Appoint  appropriate  legal,  actuarial   and   other
11    committees  as  necessary  to provide technical assistance in
12    the operation of the plan, policy and other contract  design,
13    and any other function within the authority of the plan.
14        g.  Borrow  money  to effect the purposes of the Illinois
15    Comprehensive Health Insurance  Plan.   Any  notes  or  other
16    evidence  of indebtedness of the plan not in default shall be
17    legal investments for insurers and may be carried as admitted
18    assets.
19        h.  Establish  rules,  conditions  and   procedures   for
20    reinsuring risks under this Act.
21        i.  Employ  and  fix  the compensation of employees. Such
22    employees may be paid  on  a  warrant  issued  by  the  State
23    Treasurer  pursuant  to  a  payroll  voucher certified by the
24    Board and drawn by the Comptroller against appropriations  or
25    trust funds held by the State Treasurer.
26        j.  Enter  into  intergovernmental cooperation agreements
27    with other agencies or entities of State government  for  the
28    purpose of sharing the cost of providing health care services
29    that  are  otherwise  authorized by this Act for children who
30    are  both  plan  participants  and  eligible  for   financial
31    assistance from the Division of Specialized Care for Children
32    of the University of Illinois.
33        k.  Establish  conditions  and procedures under which the
34    plan may, if funds  permit,  discount  or  subsidize  premium
SB802 Enrolled              -47-              LRB9002422JSdvA
 1    rates  that  are paid directly by senior citizens, as defined
 2    by the Board, and other plan participants, who are retired or
 3    unemployed and meet other qualifications.
 4        l.  Establish and maintain the Plan  Fund  authorized  in
 5    Section  3  of this Act, which shall be divided into separate
 6    accounts, as follows:
 7             (1)  accounts to fund the administrative, claim, and
 8        other expenses  of  the  Plan  associated  with  eligible
 9        persons  who qualify for Plan coverage under Section 7 of
10        this Act, which shall consist of:
11                  (A)  premiums  paid  on   behalf   of   covered
12             persons;
13                  (B)  appropriated   funds  and  other  revenues
14             collected or received by the Board;
15                  (C)  reserves for future losses  maintained  by
16             the Board; and
17                  (D)  interest  earnings  from investment of the
18             funds in the Plan Fund or any of its accounts  other
19             than the funds in the account established under item
20             2 of this subsection.
21             (2)  an  account,  to  be  denominated the federally
22        eligible individuals account, to fund the administrative,
23        claim, and other expenses of  the  Plan  associated  with
24        federally  eligible  individuals  who  qualify  for  Plan
25        coverage  under  Section  15  of  this  Act,  which shall
26        consist of:
27                  (A)  premiums  paid  on   behalf   of   covered
28             persons;
29                  (B)  assessments  and  other revenues collected
30             or received by the Board;
31                  (C)  reserves for future losses  maintained  by
32             the Board; and
33                  (D)  interest  earnings  from investment of the
34             federally eligible individuals account funds; and
SB802 Enrolled              -48-              LRB9002422JSdvA
 1             (3)  such other accounts as may be appropriate.
 2        m.  Charge  and  collect  assessments  paid  by  insurers
 3    pursuant  to  Section  12  of  this  Act  and   recover   any
 4    assessments for, on behalf of, or against those insurers.
 5    (Source: P.A. 88-625, eff. 9-9-94; 89-628, eff. 8-9-96.)
 6        (215 ILCS 105/5) (from Ch. 73, par. 1305)
 7        Sec. 5.  Plan administrator Administering Carrier.
 8        a.  The  board  shall  select  a  plan  administrator  an
 9    administering  carrier  through a competitive bidding process
10    to administer  the  plan.   The  board  shall  evaluate  bids
11    submitted under this Section based on criteria established by
12    the board which shall include:
13        (1)  The plan administrator's carrier's proven ability to
14    handle other large group accident and health benefit plans.
15        (2)  The   efficiency   and   timeliness   of   the  plan
16    administrator's carrier's claim processing paying procedures.
17        (3)  An estimate of total charges for  administering  the
18    plan.
19        (4)  The  plan administrator's ability to apply effective
20    cost containment programs and procedures and of  the  carrier
21    to administer the plan in a cost-efficient manner.
22        (5)  The  financial  condition  and stability of the plan
23    administrator carrier.
24        b.  The plan administrator  administering  carrier  shall
25    serve  for  a  period of 5 years subject to removal for cause
26    and subject to the terms, conditions and limitations  of  the
27    contract   between  the  board  and  the  plan  administrator
28    administering carrier.   At  least  one  year  prior  to  the
29    expiration  of  each  5 year period of service by the current
30    plan administrator an administering carrier, the board  shall
31    advertise   for   and  accept  bids  to  serve  as  the  plan
32    administrator administering carrier for the succeeding 5 year
33    period.  Selection of the  plan  administrator  administering
SB802 Enrolled              -49-              LRB9002422JSdvA
 1    carrier  for  the  succeeding period shall be made at least 6
 2    months prior to the end of the current 5 year period.
 3        c.  The plan administrator  administering  carrier  shall
 4    perform  such  eligibility  and administrative claims payment
 5    functions relating to the plan  as  may  be  assigned  to  it
 6    including:
 7        (1)  establishment  of  the  administering  carrier shall
 8    establish a  premium  billing  procedure  for  collection  of
 9    premiums from plan participants.  Billings shall be made on a
10    periodic basis as determined by the board;.
11        (2)  payment and processing of claims; and
12        (3)  (2)  other  The  administering carrier shall perform
13    all necessary functions to assure timely payment of  benefits
14    to participants under the plan, including:
15        (a)  Making  available information relating to the proper
16    manner of submitting a claim for benefits under the plan  and
17    distributing forms upon which submissions shall be made.
18        (b)  Evaluating the eligibility of each claim for payment
19    under the plan.
20        (c)  The  plan  administrator administering carrier shall
21    be governed by the requirements of Part 919 of  Title  50  of
22    the   Illinois   Administrative   Code,  promulgated  by  the
23    Department of Insurance, regarding  the  handling  of  claims
24    under this Act.
25        d.  The  plan  administrator  administering carrier shall
26    submit regular reports to the board regarding  the  operation
27    of  the  plan.  The frequency, content and form of the report
28    shall be as determined by the board.
29        e.  The plan administrator  administering  carrier  shall
30    pay  claims  expenses from the premium payments received from
31    or  on   behalf   of   plan   participants.   If   the   plan
32    administrator's  administering  carrier's payments for claims
33    expenses exceed the portion  of  premiums  allocated  by  the
34    board for payment of claims expenses, the board shall provide
SB802 Enrolled              -50-              LRB9002422JSdvA
 1    to  the  administering  carrier  additional funds to the plan
 2    administrator for payment of claims expenses.
 3        f.  The plan administrator administering carrier shall be
 4    paid as provided in the board's contract  between  the  Board
 5    and the plan administrator with the administering carrier for
 6    expenses incurred in the performance of its services.
 7    (Source: P.A. 85-1013.)
 8        (215 ILCS 105/7) (from Ch. 73, par. 1307)
 9        Sec. 7.  Eligibility.
10        a.  Except  as provided in subsection (e) of this Section
11    or in Section 15 of this Act, any individual  person  who  is
12    either  a  citizen  of the United States or an alien lawfully
13    admitted for  permanent  residence  and  continues  to  be  a
14    resident of this State shall be eligible for Plan coverage if
15    evidence is provided of:
16             (1)  A  notice  of  rejection  or  refusal  to issue
17        substantially   similar   individual   health   insurance
18        coverage for health reasons by a health insurance  issuer
19        one insurer; or
20             (2)  A refusal by a health insurance issuer to issue
21        individual health the insurance coverage except at a rate
22        exceeding  the  applicable Plan rate for which the person
23        is responsible.
24        A rejection or refusal by a group health plan  or  health
25    insurance issuer an insurer offering only stop-loss or excess
26    of   loss   insurance  or  contracts,  agreements,  or  other
27    arrangements for reinsurance coverage  with  respect  to  the
28    applicant   shall  not  be  sufficient  evidence  under  this
29    subsection.
30        b.  The board shall  promulgate  a  list  of  medical  or
31    health  conditions for which a person who is either a citizen
32    of the United  States  or  an  alien  lawfully  admitted  for
33    permanent  residence  and  a  resident of this State would be
SB802 Enrolled              -51-              LRB9002422JSdvA
 1    eligible  for  Plan  coverage  without  applying  for  health
 2    insurance coverage pursuant to subsection a. of this Section.
 3    Persons who can demonstrate the existence or history  of  any
 4    medical  or  health conditions on the list promulgated by the
 5    board shall not be required to provide the evidence specified
 6    in  subsection  a.  of  this  Section.   The  list  shall  be
 7    effective on the first day of the operation of the  Plan  and
 8    may be amended from time to time as appropriate.
 9        c.  Resident  Family  members  of  the same household who
10    each are covered persons meet the  eligibility  criteria  set
11    forth  in  this  Section  are  eligible  for  optional family
12    coverage under the Plan.
13        d.  For persons qualifying  for  coverage  in  accordance
14    with Section 7 of this Act, the board shall, if it determines
15    that  such  appropriations as are made pursuant to Section 12
16    of this Act are insufficient to allow the board to accept all
17    of the eligible persons which  it  projects  will  apply  for
18    enrollment  under  the  Plan,  limit  or  close enrollment to
19    ensure that the Plan is not over-subscribed and that  it  has
20    sufficient  resources  to  meet  its  obligations to existing
21    enrollees.  The board shall not limit or close enrollment for
22    federally eligible individuals.
23        e.  A person shall not be eligible for coverage under the
24    Plan if:
25             (1)  He or she has or obtains other coverage under a
26        group  health   plan   or   health   insurance   coverage
27        substantially  similar to or better than a Plan policy as
28        an insured or covered dependent or would be  eligible  to
29        have  that  coverage  if  he or she elected to obtain it.
30        Persons  otherwise  eligible  for  Plan   coverage   may,
31        however,  solely for the purpose of having coverage for a
32        pre-existing  condition,  maintain  other  coverage  only
33        while  satisfying  any  pre-existing  condition   waiting
34        period  under  a  Plan policy or a subsequent replacement
SB802 Enrolled              -52-              LRB9002422JSdvA
 1        policy of a Plan policy.
 2             (1.1)  His or  her  prior  coverage  under  a  group
 3        health  plan  or  health  insurance coverage, provided or
 4        arranged by under a group policy or plan of  an  employer
 5        of more than 10 employees was discontinued for any reason
 6        without  the  entire group or plan being discontinued and
 7        not replaced, provided he or she remains an employee,  or
 8        dependent thereof, of the same employer.
 9             (2)  He  or  she is a recipient of or is approved to
10        receive medical assistance, except  that   a  person  may
11        continue   to  receive  medical  assistance  through  the
12        medical assistance  no  grant  program,  but  only  while
13        satisfying  the  requirements for a preexisting condition
14        under Section 8, subsection f. of this Act.   Payment  of
15        premiums  pursuant  to this Act shall be allocable to the
16        person's spenddown for purposes of the medical assistance
17        no grant program, but that person shall not  be  eligible
18        for  any Plan benefits while that person remains eligible
19        for medical  assistance.   If  the  person  continues  to
20        receive  or  be  approved  to  receive medical assistance
21        through the medical assistance no  grant  program  at  or
22        after  the  time  that  requirements  for  a  preexisting
23        condition are satisfied, the person shall not be eligible
24        for  coverage  under  the  Plan.  In  that  circumstance,
25        coverage  under  the  plan  shall  terminate  as  of  the
26        expiration   of   the  preexisting  condition  limitation
27        period.  Under all other  circumstances,  coverage  under
28        the   Plan   shall  automatically  terminate  as  of  the
29        effective date of any medical assistance.
30             (3)  Except as provided in Section  15,  the  person
31        has  previously  participated in the Plan and voluntarily
32        terminated Plan terminates  coverage,  unless  12  months
33        have   elapsed   since   the  person's  latest  voluntary
34        termination of coverage.
SB802 Enrolled              -53-              LRB9002422JSdvA
 1             (4)  The person fails to pay  the  required  premium
 2        under  the covered person's insured's terms of enrollment
 3        and participation, in which event the  liability  of  the
 4        Plan shall be limited to benefits incurred under the Plan
 5        for  the time period for which premiums had been paid and
 6        the covered person remained eligible for Plan coverage.
 7             (5)  The  Plan  has  paid  a  total  of   $1,000,000
 8        $500,000 in benefits on behalf of the covered person.
 9             (6)  The   person   is   a   resident  of  a  public
10        institution.
11             (7)  The person's premium is paid for or  reimbursed
12        under   any   government  sponsored  program  or  by  any
13        government agency or health care provider, except  as  an
14        otherwise  qualifying full-time employee, or dependent of
15        such employee, of a  government  agency  or  health  care
16        provider.
17             (8)  The person has or later receives other benefits
18        or   funds  from  any  settlement,  judgement,  or  award
19        resulting from any accident or injury, regardless of  the
20        date   of   the   accident   or   injury,  or  any  other
21        circumstances creating a legal liability for damages  due
22        that  person  by  a  third party, whether the settlement,
23        judgment,  or  award  is  in  the  form  of  a  contract,
24        agreement, or trust on behalf of a minor or otherwise and
25        whether the settlement, judgment, or award is payable  to
26        the  person,  his  or  her  dependent,  estate,  personal
27        representative,  or  guardian in a lump sum or over time,
28        so long as there  continues  to  be  benefits  or  assets
29        remaining  from  those  sources in an amount in excess of
30        $100,000.
31        f.  The  board  or  the   administrator   shall   require
32    verification  of  residency  and  may  require any additional
33    information or documentation, or statements under oath,  when
34    necessary to determine residency upon initial application and
SB802 Enrolled              -54-              LRB9002422JSdvA
 1    for the entire term of the policy.
 2        g.  Coverage  shall  cease (i) on the date a person is no
 3    longer a resident of Illinois, (ii)  on  the  date  a  person
 4    requests coverage to end, (iii) upon the death of the covered
 5    person,  (iv)  on the date State law requires cancellation of
 6    the policy, or (v) at the Plan's option, 30  days  after  the
 7    Plan  makes  any inquiry concerning a person's eligibility or
 8    place of residence to which the person does not reply.
 9        h.  Except under the conditions set forth in subsection g
10    of this Section, the coverage of any  person  who  ceases  to
11    meet  the  eligibility  requirements of this Section shall be
12    terminated at the end of the current policy period for  which
13    the necessary premiums have been paid.
14    (Source: P.A. 88-364; 89-486, eff. 6-21-96.)
15        (215 ILCS 105/7.1 new)
16        Sec. 7.1.  Premiums.
17        (a)  The Board shall establish premium rates for coverage
18    as provided in subsection (d) of this Section.
19        (b)  Separate  schedules  of  premium rates based on sex,
20    age, geographical location, and benefit plan shall apply  for
21    individual risks.
22        (c)  The Board may provide for separate premium rates for
23    optional  family  coverage  for  the  spouse  or  one or more
24    dependents who reside together in any  eligible  individual's
25    or eligible person's household.  The rates for each spouse or
26    dependent  who  qualifies  to  be covered under this optional
27    family coverage shall be such percentage  of  the  applicable
28    individual  Plan  rate  as  the  Board,  in  accordance  with
29    appropriate actuarial principles, shall establish.
30        (d)  The  Board,  with the assistance of the Director and
31    in accordance with appropriate  actuarial  principles,  shall
32    determine  a  standard  risk  rate by using the average rates
33    that individual standard risks in this State are  charged  by
SB802 Enrolled              -55-              LRB9002422JSdvA
 1    at  least 5 of the largest health insurance issuers providing
 2    individual health insurance coverage to residents of Illinois
 3    that is substantially similar to the coverage offered by  the
 4    Plan.   In  determining  the average rate or charges of those
 5    health insurance issuers, the rates charged by those  issuers
 6    shall be actuarially adjusted to determine the rate or charge
 7    that  would  have  been charged for benefits similar to those
 8    provided by the Plan.   The  standard  risk  rates  shall  be
 9    established  using  reasonable actuarial techniques and shall
10    reflect anticipated claims experience,  expenses,  and  other
11    appropriate risk factors for such coverage.
12        (e)  Rates  for Plan coverage shall not be less than 125%
13    nor more than 150% of rates  established  as  applicable  for
14    individual standard risks pursuant to subsection (d).
15        (215 ILCS 105/8) (from Ch. 73, par. 1308)
16        Sec. 8.  Minimum benefits.
17        a.  Availability.  The  Plan  shall  offer in an annually
18    renewable policy major  medical  expense  coverage  to  every
19    eligible  person  who  is  not  eligible for Medicare.  Major
20    medical expense coverage offered by the  Plan  shall  pay  an
21    eligible  person's  covered expenses, subject to limit on the
22    deductible  and   coinsurance   payments   authorized   under
23    paragraph  (4)  of  subsection  d  of  this  Section, up to a
24    lifetime benefit limit of  $1,000,000  $500,000  per  covered
25    individual.   The  maximum  limit under this subsection shall
26    not be altered by the  Board,  and  no  actuarial  equivalent
27    benefit  may  be  substituted  by  the  Board. Any person who
28    otherwise would qualify for coverage under the Plan,  but  is
29    excluded because he or she is eligible for Medicare, shall be
30    eligible  for  any  separate  Medicare  supplement  policy or
31    policies which the Board may offer.
32        b.  Outline  of  benefits  Covered   expenses.    Covered
33    expenses  shall  be  limited  to  the  usual  reasonable  and
SB802 Enrolled              -56-              LRB9002422JSdvA
 1    customary  charge, including negotiated fees, in the locality
 2    for the following services and articles when prescribed by  a
 3    physician   and  determined  by  the  Plan  to  be  medically
 4    necessary for the following areas  of  services,  subject  to
 5    such separate deductibles, co-payments, exclusions, and other
 6    limitations  on  benefits   as  the Board shall establish and
 7    approve,  and  the  other  provisions  of  this  Section  and
 8    prescribed by a person licensed  and  practicing  within  the
 9    scope of his or her profession as authorized by State law:
10             (1)  Hospital  services room and board and any other
11        hospital services, except that inpatient  hospitalization
12        for the treatment of mental and emotional disorders shall
13        only  be  covered  for a maximum of 45 days in a calendar
14        year.
15             (2)  Professional  services  for  the  diagnosis  or
16        treatment of injuries,  illnesses  or  conditions,  other
17        than   dental  and,  or  outpatient  mental  and  nervous
18        disorders as  described  in  paragraph  (17),  which  are
19        rendered  by  a  physician  or  chiropractor, or by other
20        licensed   professionals   at    the    physician's    or
21        chiropractor's direction.
22             (3)  (Blank).  If  surgery  has  been recommended, a
23        second opinion may be required. The charge for  a  second
24        opinion  as  to  whether  the surgery is required will be
25        paid in full without regard to deductible  or  co-payment
26        requirements.   If  the  second  opinion differs from the
27        first, the charge for a third opinion, if  desired,  will
28        also  be  paid  in  full  without regard to deductible or
29        co-payment  requirements.   Regardless  of  whether   the
30        second  opinion  or  third  opinion confirms the original
31        recommendation, it is the patient's decision  whether  to
32        undergo surgery.
33             (4)  Drugs  requiring a physician's or other legally
34        authorized prescription.
SB802 Enrolled              -57-              LRB9002422JSdvA
 1             (5)  Skilled nursing services of care provided in  a
 2        licensed  skilled  nursing facility for not more than 120
 3        days during in  a  policy  calendar  year,  provided  the
 4        service  commences within 14 days following a confinement
 5        of at least 3 consecutive days in a hospital for the same
 6        condition.
 7             (6)  Services of a home health agency in accord with
 8        a home health care plan, up to a maximum  of  270  visits
 9        per year.
10             (7)  Services  of  a  licensed  hospice for not more
11        than 180 days during a policy year.
12             (8)  Use of radium or other radioactive materials.
13             (9)  Oxygen.
14             (10)  Anesthetics.
15             (11)  Orthoses and prostheses other than dental.
16             (12)  Rental or purchase in  accordance  with  Board
17        policies  or  procedures  of  durable  medical equipment,
18        other than eyeglasses or hearing aids, for which there is
19        no personal use in the absence of the condition for which
20        it is prescribed.
21             (13)  Diagnostic x-rays and laboratory tests.
22             (14)  Oral surgery  for  excision  of  partially  or
23        completely  unerupted  impacted  teeth  or  the  gums and
24        tissues of the mouth, when not  performed  in  connection
25        with  the routine extraction or repair of teeth, and oral
26        surgery  and  procedures,  including   orthodontics   and
27        prosthetics  necessary  for craniofacial or maxillofacial
28        conditions and to correct congenital defects or  injuries
29        due to accident.
30             (15)  Physical,  speech, and functional occupational
31        therapy  as   medically   necessary   and   provided   by
32        appropriate licensed professionals.
33             (16)  Emergency   and   other   medically  necessary
34        transportation provided by a licensed  ambulance  service
SB802 Enrolled              -58-              LRB9002422JSdvA
 1        to  the nearest health care facility qualified to treat a
 2        covered the illness, injury, or condition, subject to the
 3        provisions of the Emergency Medical Systems (EMS) Act.
 4             (17)  The first 50 professional Outpatient  services
 5        visits  for diagnosis and treatment of mental and nervous
 6        emotional disorders provided that a covered person  shall
 7        be  required  to  make  a copayment not to exceed 50% and
 8        that the Plan's payment shall not exceed such amounts  as
 9        are established by the Board rendered during the year, up
10        to a maximum of $80 per visit.
11             (18)  Human organ or tissue transplants specified by
12        the  Board that are performed at a hospital designated by
13        the Board as a participating transplant center  for  that
14        specific organ or tissue transplant.
15        c.  Exclusions  Exclusion.   Covered expenses of the Plan
16    shall not include the following:
17             (1)  Any charge for treatment for cosmetic  purposes
18        other than for reconstructive surgery when the service is
19        incidental  to  or follows surgery resulting from injury,
20        sickness or  other  diseases  of  the  involved  part  or
21        surgery  for  the  repair  or  treatment  of a congenital
22        bodily defect to restore normal bodily functions.
23             (2)  Any charge for care that is primarily for rest,
24        custodial, educational, or domiciliary purposes.
25             (3)  Any charge for services in a  private  room  to
26        the  extent  it  is in excess of the institution's charge
27        for its most common semiprivate room,  unless  a  private
28        room is prescribed as medically necessary by a physician.
29             (4)  That  part  of any charge for room and board or
30        for  services  rendered  or  articles  prescribed  by   a
31        physician,  dentist,  or other health care personnel that
32        exceeds  the  reasonable  and  customary  charge  in  the
33        locality or for any services or  supplies  not  medically
34        necessary for the diagnosed injury or illness.
SB802 Enrolled              -59-              LRB9002422JSdvA
 1             (5)  Any   charge   for  services  or  articles  the
 2        provision of which is not within the scope  of  licensure
 3        of  the  institution or individual providing the services
 4        or articles.
 5             (6)  Any expense incurred  prior  to  the  effective
 6        date  of  coverage  by  the  Plan for the person on whose
 7        behalf the expense is incurred.
 8             (7)  Dental care, dental surgery,  dental  treatment
 9        or  dental  appliances,  except  as provided in paragraph
10        (14) of subsection b of this Section.
11             (8)  Eyeglasses, contact  lenses,  hearing  aids  or
12        their fitting.
13             (9)  Illness or injury due to (A) war or any acts of
14        war;  (B)  commission of, or attempt to commit, a felony;
15        or (C) aviation activities, except when  traveling  as  a
16        fare-paying passenger on a commercial airline.
17             (10)  Services  of  blood  donors  and  any  fee for
18        failure to replace the first 3 pints of blood provided to
19        a covered an eligible  person each policy year.
20             (11)  Personal supplies or services  provided  by  a
21        hospital  or  nursing  home,  or  any other nonmedical or
22        nonprescribed supply or service.
23             (12)  Routine maternity  charges  for  a  pregnancy,
24        except  where  added as optional coverage with payment of
25        an  additional  premium  for  pregnancy  resulting   from
26        conception  occurring  after  the  effective  date of the
27        optional coverage.
28             (13)  (Blank). Expenses of  obtaining  an  abortion,
29        induced miscarriage or induced premature birth unless, in
30        the   opinion   of  a  physician,  those  procedures  are
31        necessary for the  preservation  of  life  of  the  woman
32        seeking  such  treatment,  or except an induced premature
33        birth intended to produce a live  viable  child  and  the
34        procedure  is  necessary  for the health of the mother or
SB802 Enrolled              -60-              LRB9002422JSdvA
 1        unborn child.
 2             (14)  Any expense or charge for services, drugs,  or
 3        supplies  that  are:  (i)  not  provided  in  accord with
 4        generally accepted standards of current medical practice;
 5        (ii) for procedures, treatments, equipment,  transplants,
 6        or   implants,   any   of   which   are  investigational,
 7        experimental,   or   for   research    purposes;    (iii)
 8        investigative  and not proven safe and effective; or (iv)
 9        for,  or  resulting   from,   a   gender   transformation
10        operation.
11             (15)  Any  expense  or  charge  for routine physical
12        examinations or tests.
13             (16)  Any expense for which a charge is not made  in
14        the  absence  of insurance or for which there is no legal
15        obligation on the part of the patient to pay.
16             (17)  Any expense  incurred  for  benefits  provided
17        under  the  laws  of  the  United  States and this State,
18        including  Medicare  and  Medicaid  and   other   medical
19        assistance,    military    service-connected   disability
20        payments, medical services provided for  members  of  the
21        armed  forces  and  their  dependents or employees of the
22        armed forces of the United States, and  medical  services
23        financed on behalf of all citizens by the United States.
24             (18)  Any   expense   or   charge   for   in   vitro
25        fertilization,  artificial  insemination,  or  any  other
26        artificial means used to cause pregnancy.
27             (19)  Any  expense or charge for oral contraceptives
28        used for birth  control  or  any  other  temporary  birth
29        control measures.
30             (20)  Any  expense  or  charge  for sterilization or
31        sterilization reversals.
32             (21)  Any  expense  or  charge   for   weight   loss
33        programs,  exercise  equipment,  or treatment of obesity,
34        except when certified by a physician  as  morbid  obesity
SB802 Enrolled              -61-              LRB9002422JSdvA
 1        (at least 2 times normal body weight).
 2             (22)  Any   expense   or   charge   for  acupuncture
 3        treatment unless  used  as  an  anesthetic  agent  for  a
 4        covered surgery.
 5             (23)  Any  expense or charge for or related to organ
 6        or tissue transplants other than  those  performed  at  a
 7        hospital  with  a Board approved organ transplant program
 8        that has been designated by the Board as a  preferred  or
 9        exclusive  provider  organization for that specific organ
10        or tissue transplant.
11             (24)  Any  expense   or   charge   for   procedures,
12        treatments,  equipment,  or services that are provided in
13        special settings for research purposes or in a controlled
14        environment, are being studied  for  safety,  efficiency,
15        and  effectiveness,  and  are awaiting endorsement by the
16        appropriate  national  medical  speciality  college   for
17        general use within the medical community.
18        d.  Premiums, Deductibles, and coinsurance. (1)  Premiums
19    charged   for   coverage  issued  by  the  Plan  may  not  be
20    unreasonable in relation to the benefits provided,  the  risk
21    experience  and  the  reasonable  expenses  of  providing the
22    coverage.
23        (2)  Separate schedules of premium rates  based  on  sex,
24    age  and  geographical  location  shall  apply for individual
25    risks.
26        (3)  The Plan may provide for separate premium rates  for
27    optional  family  coverage  for  the  spouse  or  one or more
28    dependents of any person eligible to  be  insured  under  the
29    Plan  who  is  also the oldest adult member of the family and
30    remains continuously enrolled in  the  Plan  as  the  primary
31    enrollee.   The   rates  shall  be  such  percentage  of  the
32    applicable individual Plan rate as the Board,  in  accordance
33    with  appropriate  actuarial  principles, shall establish for
34    each spouse or dependent.
SB802 Enrolled              -62-              LRB9002422JSdvA
 1        (4)  The  Board  shall  determine,  in  accordance   with
 2    appropriate  actuarial  principles,  the  average  rates that
 3    individual standard risks in this State  are  charged  by  at
 4    least  5  of  the  largest  insurers  providing  coverage  to
 5    residents  of  Illinois  that is substantially similar to the
 6    Plan coverage. In the event at least 5 insurers do not  offer
 7    substantially   similar   coverage,   the   rates   shall  be
 8    established using reasonable actuarial techniques  and  shall
 9    reflect  anticipated  claims  experience, expenses, and other
10    appropriate risk factors relating to  the  Plan.   Rates  for
11    Plan  coverage  shall  be  135%  of  rates  so established as
12    applicable for individual standard risks; provided,  however,
13    if after determining that the appropriations made pursuant to
14    Section  12 of this Act are insufficient to ensure that total
15    income from all  sources  will  equal  or  exceed  the  total
16    incurred  costs  and  expenses  for  the  current  number  of
17    enrollees,  the  board  shall  raise premium rates above this
18    135% standard to the level it deems necessary to  ensure  the
19    financial  solvency  of the Plan for enrollees already in the
20    Plan. All rates and rate schedules shall be submitted to  the
21    board for approval.
22        (5)  The Plan coverage defined in Section 6 shall provide
23    for  a  choice of deductibles per individual as authorized by
24    the Board per individual per annum.  If 2 individual  members
25    of  the same a family household, who are both covered persons
26    under the Plan, satisfy the same applicable  deductibles,  no
27    other  member  of  that  family  who is also a covered person
28    eligible for coverage under the Plan  shall  be  required  to
29    meet  any  deductibles for the balance of that calendar year.
30    The deductibles must  be  applied  first  to  the  authorized
31    amount of covered expenses incurred by the covered person.  A
32    mandatory  coinsurance  requirement  shall  be imposed at the
33    rate authorized by the  Board  in  excess  of  the  mandatory
34    deductible,  the  coinsurance  in the aggregate not to exceed
SB802 Enrolled              -63-              LRB9002422JSdvA
 1    such amounts as are authorized by the Board  per  annum.   At
 2    its  discretion  the  Board  may, however, offer catastrophic
 3    coverages  or  other  policies  that   provide   for   larger
 4    deductibles  with  or  without coinsurance requirements.  The
 5    deductibles and coinsurance factors may be adjusted  annually
 6    according  to  the  Medical  Component  of the Consumer Price
 7    Index.
 8        (6)  The Plan may provide for and employ cost containment
 9    measures and requirements  including,  but  not  limited  to,
10    preadmission    certification,   second   surgical   opinion,
11    concurrent  utilization  review  programs,  individual   case
12    management,  preferred provider organizations, and other cost
13    effective arrangements for paying for covered expenses.
14        e.  Scope of coverage.
15        (1)  In approving any of the benefit plans to be  offered
16    by  the  Plan, the Board shall establish such benefit levels,
17    deductibles, coinsurance factors, exclusions, and limitations
18    as it may  deem  appropriate  and  that  it  believes  to  be
19    generally   reflective   of   and  commensurate  with  health
20    insurance coverage that is provided in the individual  market
21    in this State.
22        (2)  The  benefit  plans  approved  by the Board may also
23    provide for and employ various cost containment measures  and
24    other   requirements   including,   but   not   limited   to,
25    preadmission  certification,  prior approval, second surgical
26    opinions, concurrent utilization review programs,  individual
27    case  management,  preferred  provider  organizations, health
28    maintenance   organizations,   and   other   cost   effective
29    arrangements for  paying  for  covered  expenses.  Except  as
30    provided  in  subsection  c  of  this Section, if the covered
31    expenses  incurred  by  the  eligible   person   exceed   the
32    deductible  for  major medical expense coverage in a calendar
33    year, the Plan shall pay  at  least  80%  of  any  additional
34    covered  expenses  incurred by the person during the calendar
SB802 Enrolled              -64-              LRB9002422JSdvA
 1    year.
 2        f.  Preexisting conditions.
 3             (1)  Except  for  federally   eligible   individuals
 4        qualifying for Plan coverage under Section 15 of this Act
 5        or eligible persons who qualify for and elect to purchase
 6        the   waiver   authorized   in   paragraph  (3)  of  this
 7        subsection,  Six  months:  plan  coverage  shall  exclude
 8        charges or expenses incurred during the  first  6  months
 9        following  the  effective  date  of  coverage  as  to any
10        condition if: (a) the  condition  had  manifested  itself
11        within  the  6  month  period  immediately  preceding the
12        effective date of coverage in  such  a  manner  as  would
13        cause  an  ordinarily  prudent  person to seek diagnosis,
14        care  or  treatment;  or  (b)  medical  advice,  care  or
15        treatment was recommended or received within the 6  month
16        period   immediately  preceding  the  effective  date  of
17        coverage.
18             (2)  (Blank).
19             (3)  Waiver: The preexisting condition exclusions as
20        set forth in paragraph (1) of this  subsection  shall  be
21        waived  to  the  extent to which the eligible person: (a)
22        has satisfied similar exclusions under any  prior  health
23        insurance  coverage  policy or group health plan that was
24        involuntarily  terminated;  (b)  is  ineligible  for  any
25        continuation coverage or  conversion  rights  that  would
26        continue   or   provide  substantially  similar  coverage
27        following that termination; and (c) has applied for  Plan
28        coverage not later than 30 days following the involuntary
29        termination.  No  policy  or plan shall be deemed to have
30        been involuntarily terminated if the master  policyholder
31        or  other  controlling  party elected to change insurance
32        coverage from one  health  insurance  issuer  company  or
33        group  health  plan  to  another  even  if  that decision
34        resulted  in  a  discontinuation  of  coverage  for   any
SB802 Enrolled              -65-              LRB9002422JSdvA
 1        individual  under  the  plan,  either  totally or for any
 2        medical condition. For each eligible person who qualifies
 3        for and elects this waiver, there shall be added to  each
 4        payment  of  premium, on a prorated basis, a surcharge of
 5        up to 10% of the otherwise applicable annual premium  for
 6        as  long  as  that  individual's  coverage under the Plan
 7        remains in effect or 60 months, whichever is less.
 8        g.  Other sources primary;  nonduplication of benefits.
 9             (1)  The Plan shall be the last  payor  of  benefits
10        whenever  any  other  benefit  or  source  of third party
11        payment is  available.   Subject  to  the  provisions  of
12        subsection  e  of  Section  7, benefits otherwise payable
13        under Plan coverage shall be reduced by all amounts  paid
14        or payable by Medicare or any other government program or
15        through  any  health  insurance  or  group  other  health
16        benefit   plan,   whether  by  insurance,  reimbursement,
17        insured  or  otherwise,  or  through  any   third   party
18        liability,  settlement, judgment, or award, regardless of
19        the date of the settlement, judgment, or  award,  whether
20        the  settlement,  judgment,  or award is in the form of a
21        contract, agreement, or trust on behalf  of  a  minor  or
22        otherwise  and whether the settlement, judgment, or award
23        is payable to the covered person, his or  her  dependent,
24        estate,  personal  representative,  or guardian in a lump
25        sum or over time, and by all hospital or medical  expense
26        benefits  paid or payable under any worker's compensation
27        coverage,  automobile  medical  payment,   or   liability
28        insurance,  whether  provided  on  the  basis of fault or
29        nonfault, and by any hospital or medical benefits paid or
30        payable under  or  provided  pursuant  to  any  State  or
31        federal law or program.
32             (2)  The  Plan  shall have a cause of action against
33        any covered person or any other person or entity for  the
34        recovery  of any amount paid to the extent the amount was
SB802 Enrolled              -66-              LRB9002422JSdvA
 1        for treatment, services, or supplies not covered in  this
 2        Section  or  in  excess  of benefits as set forth in this
 3        Section.
 4             (3)  Whenever benefits are due from the Plan because
 5        of sickness or an injury to a  covered  person  resulting
 6        from  a  third party's wrongful act or negligence and the
 7        covered person has recovered or may recover damages  from
 8        a  third  party  or  its insurer, the Plan shall have the
 9        right to reduce benefits or to  refuse  to  pay  benefits
10        that  otherwise  may  be payable by the amount of damages
11        that the covered person  has  recovered  or  may  recover
12        regardless  of  the date of the sickness or injury or the
13        date of any settlement, judgment, or award resulting from
14        that sickness or injury.
15             During the pendency of any action or claim  that  is
16        brought  by  or  on  behalf of a covered person against a
17        third party or  its  insurer,  any  benefits  that  would
18        otherwise  be  payable  except for the provisions of this
19        paragraph (3) shall be paid if  payment  by  or  for  the
20        third  party has not yet been made and the covered person
21        or, if  incapable,  that  person's  legal  representative
22        agrees  in writing to pay back promptly the benefits paid
23        as a result of the sickness or injury to  the  extent  of
24        any  future  payments  made by or for the third party for
25        the sickness or  injury.   This  agreement  is  to  apply
26        whether  or not liability for the payments is established
27        or admitted by the third party or whether those  payments
28        are itemized.
29             Any  amounts  due  the plan to repay benefits may be
30        deducted from other benefits payable by  the  Plan  after
31        payments by or for the third party are made.
32             (4)  Benefits  due  from  the Plan may be reduced or
33        refused  as  an  offset  against  any  amount   otherwise
34        recoverable under this Section.
SB802 Enrolled              -67-              LRB9002422JSdvA
 1        h.  Right of subrogation; recoveries.
 2             (1)  Whenever  the Plan has paid benefits because of
 3        sickness or an injury to  any  covered  person  resulting
 4        from  a  third party's wrongful act or negligence, or for
 5        which  an  insurer  is  liable  in  accordance  with  the
 6        provisions of any policy of insurance,  and  the  covered
 7        person  has recovered or may recover damages from a third
 8        party that is liable for the damages, the Plan shall have
 9        the right to  recover  the  benefits  it  paid  from  any
10        amounts  that  the  covered  person  has  received or may
11        receive regardless of the date of the sickness or  injury
12        or  the  date  of  any  settlement,  judgment,  or  award
13        resulting  from  that sickness or injury.  The Plan shall
14        be subrogated to any right of recovery the covered person
15        may have under the terms of any private or public  health
16        care  coverage  or liability coverage, including coverage
17        under the  Workers'  Compensation  Act  or  the  Workers'
18        Occupational  Diseases  Act,  without  the  necessity  of
19        assignment  of claim or other authorization to secure the
20        right of recovery.  To enforce its subrogation right, the
21        Plan may (i) intervene or join in an action or proceeding
22        brought  by  the   covered   person   or   his   personal
23        representative,   including  his  guardian,  conservator,
24        estate, dependents, or survivors, against any third party
25        or the third party's insurer that may be liable  or  (ii)
26        institute  and  prosecute  legal  proceedings against any
27        third party or the third  party's  insurer  that  may  be
28        liable for the sickness or injury in an appropriate court
29        either  in  the  name  of  the Plan or in the name of the
30        covered person or his personal representative,  including
31        his   guardian,   conservator,   estate,  dependents,  or
32        survivors.
33             (2)  If any action or claim  is  brought  by  or  on
34        behalf  of  a covered person against a third party or the
SB802 Enrolled              -68-              LRB9002422JSdvA
 1        third party's insurer, the covered person or his personal
 2        representative,  including  his  guardian,   conservator,
 3        estate,  dependents,  or survivors, shall notify the Plan
 4        by personal service or registered mail of the  action  or
 5        claim and of the name of the court in which the action or
 6        claim  is  brought, filing proof thereof in the action or
 7        claim.  The Plan may, at any time thereafter, join in the
 8        action or claim upon its motion so  that  all  orders  of
 9        court  after  hearing  and judgment shall be made for its
10        protection.  No release or  settlement  of  a  claim  for
11        damages  and  no  satisfaction  of judgment in the action
12        shall be valid without the written consent of the Plan to
13        the extent of its interest in the settlement or  judgment
14        and of the covered person or his personal representative.
15             (3)  In  the  event  that  the covered person or his
16        personal representative fails to institute  a  proceeding
17        against  any  appropriate  third  party  before the fifth
18        month before the action would be barred, the Plan may, in
19        its own name or in the name  of  the  covered  person  or
20        personal  representative,  commence  a proceeding against
21        any appropriate third party for the recovery  of  damages
22        on  account  of  any  sickness,  injury,  or death to the
23        covered person.  The covered person  shall  cooperate  in
24        doing  what is reasonably necessary to assist the Plan in
25        any recovery and shall not take  any  action  that  would
26        prejudice  the  Plan's right to recovery.  The Plan shall
27        pay to the covered person or his personal  representative
28        all  sums  collected  from any third party by judgment or
29        otherwise in excess of amounts paid in benefits under the
30        Plan and amounts paid or to be paid as  costs,  attorneys
31        fees,  and  reasonable  expenses  incurred by the Plan in
32        making the collection or enforcing the judgment.
33             (4)  In the event  that  a  covered  person  or  his
34        personal    representative,   including   his   guardian,
SB802 Enrolled              -69-              LRB9002422JSdvA
 1        conservator, estate, dependents, or  survivors,  recovers
 2        damages  from a third party for sickness or injury caused
 3        to the covered person, the covered person or the personal
 4        representative shall pay to the  Plan  from  the  damages
 5        recovered  the  amount  of benefits paid or to be paid on
 6        behalf of the covered person.
 7             (5)  When the action or  claim  is  brought  by  the
 8        covered  person  alone  and  the  covered person incurs a
 9        personal liability to pay attorney's fees  and  costs  of
10        litigation,  the  Plan's  claim  for reimbursement of the
11        benefits provided to the covered person shall be the full
12        amount of benefits paid to or on behalf  of  the  covered
13        person  under  this  Act  less  a  pro  rata  share  that
14        represents the Plan's reasonable share of attorney's fees
15        paid  by  the covered person and that portion of the cost
16        of litigation expenses determined by multiplying  by  the
17        ratio  of the full amount of the expenditures to the full
18        amount of the judgement, award, or settlement.
19             (6)  In the event of judgment or award in a suit  or
20        claim  against  a third party or insurer, the court shall
21        first  order  paid  from  any  judgement  or  award   the
22        reasonable  litigation  expenses  incurred in preparation
23        and prosecution of the action  or  claim,  together  with
24        reasonable  attorney's  fees.   After  payment  of  those
25        expenses  and  attorney's fees, the court shall apply out
26        of the  balance  of  the  judgment  or  award  an  amount
27        sufficient  to  reimburse  the  Plan  the  full amount of
28        benefits paid on behalf of the covered person under  this
29        Act,  provided  the  court  may  reduce and apportion the
30        Plan's portion of  the  judgement  proportionate  to  the
31        recovery  of the covered person.  The burden of producing
32        evidence sufficient to support the exercise by the  court
33        of its discretion to reduce the amount of a proven charge
34        sought  to  be  enforced  against the recovery shall rest
SB802 Enrolled              -70-              LRB9002422JSdvA
 1        with the party seeking  the  reduction.   The  court  may
 2        consider  the  nature  and extent of the injury, economic
 3        and non-economic  loss,  settlement  offers,  comparative
 4        negligence  as  it  applies to the case at hand, hospital
 5        costs, physician costs, and all other appropriate  costs.
 6        The  Plan  shall  pay  its pro rata share of the attorney
 7        fees based on the Plan's recovery as it compares  to  the
 8        total  judgment.   Any  reimbursement  rights of the Plan
 9        shall take priority over  all  other  liens  and  charges
10        existing  under the laws of this State with the exception
11        of any attorney liens filed under the Attorneys Lien Act.
12             (7)  The Plan may compromise or settle  and  release
13        any  claim  for benefits provided under this Act or waive
14        any claims for benefits, in whole or  in  part,  for  the
15        convenience  of  the  Plan or if the Plan determines that
16        collection  would  result  in  undue  hardship  upon  the
17        covered person.
18    (Source: P.A. 89-486, eff. 6-21-96.)
19        (215 ILCS 105/10) (from Ch. 73, par. 1310)
20        Sec.  10.   Collective  action.   Participation  in   the
21    operation  of  the Plan, the establishment of rates, forms or
22    procedures, or any other joint or collective action  required
23    by  this  Act  shall  not  be  the basis of any legal action,
24    criminal or civil liability or penalty against the Plan,  the
25    plan   administrator,  the  board  or  any  of  its  members,
26    employees, contractors, or consultants.
27    (Source: P.A. 85-702; 86-1322.)
28        (215 ILCS 105/12) (from Ch. 73, par. 1312)
29        Sec. 12.  Deficit or surplus.
30        a.  If premiums or other receipts by the Director, Board,
31    or administering carrier exceed the amount required  for  the
32    operation   of   the   Plan,   including  actual  losses  and
SB802 Enrolled              -71-              LRB9002422JSdvA
 1    administrative expenses of the Plan, the Board  shall  direct
 2    that  the excess be held at interest, in a bank designated by
 3    the Board, or used to offset future losses or to reduce  Plan
 4    premiums.   In  this  subsection,  the  term  "future losses"
 5    includes reserves for incurred but not reported claims.
 6        b.  Any deficit incurred or expected to  be  incurred  on
 7    behalf  of  eligible  persons  who  qualify for plan coverage
 8    under Section 7 of this Act the Plan shall be recouped by  an
 9    appropriation made by the General Assembly.
10        c.  For  the purposes of this Section, a deficit shall be
11    incurred  when  anticipated  losses  and  incurred  but   not
12    reported  claims  expenses  exceed  anticipated  income  from
13    earned premiums net of administrative expenses.
14        d.  Any  deficit  incurred  or expected to be incurred on
15    behalf of federally eligible individuals who qualify for Plan
16    coverage under Section 15 of this Act shall be recouped by an
17    assessment of  all  insurers  made  in  accordance  with  the
18    provisions  of  this Section.  The Board shall within 90 days
19    of the effective date of this  amendatory  Act  of  1997  and
20    within  the  first  quarter  of  each  fiscal year thereafter
21    assess all insurers for the anticipated deficit in accordance
22    with the provisions of this Section.  The board may also make
23    additional assessments no more than 4 times a  year  to  fund
24    unanticipated  deficits,  implementation  expenses,  and cash
25    flow needs.
26        e.  An  insurer's  assessment  shall  be  determined   by
27    multiplying the total assessment, as determined in subsection
28    d.  of  this  Section,  by a fraction, the numerator of which
29    equals that insurer's direct  Illinois  premiums  during  the
30    preceding  calendar  year and the denominator of which equals
31    the total of all insurers'  direct  Illinois  premiums.   The
32    Board  may  exempt  those  insurers whose share as determined
33    under this subsection would be so minimal as  to  not  exceed
34    the estimated cost of levying the assessment.
SB802 Enrolled              -72-              LRB9002422JSdvA
 1        f.  The  Board shall charge and collect from each insurer
 2    the amounts determined to be due  under  this  Section.   The
 3    assessment  shall  be  billed by Board invoice based upon the
 4    insurer's direct Illinois premium  income  as  shown  in  its
 5    annual  statement  for  the  preceding calendar year as filed
 6    with the Director.  The invoice shall be due upon receipt and
 7    must be paid no later than  30  days  after  receipt  by  the
 8    insurer.
 9        g.  When  an  insurer fails to pay the full amount of any
10    assessment of $100 or more due under this Section there shall
11    be added to the amount due as a penalty the greater of $50 or
12    an amount equal to 5% of the deficiency  for  each  month  or
13    part of a month that the deficiency remains unpaid.
14        h.  Amounts collected under this Section shall be paid to
15    the  Board  for  deposit  into  the  Plan  Fund authorized by
16    Section 3 of this Act.
17        i.  An insurer may petition the Director for an abatement
18    or deferment of all or part of an assessment imposed  by  the
19    Board.  The Director may abate or defer, in whole or in part,
20    the assessment if, in the opinion of the Director, payment of
21    the  assessment  would endanger the ability of the insurer to
22    fulfill  its  contractual  obligations.   In  the  event   an
23    assessment  against an insurer is abated or deferred in whole
24    or in part, the amount by which the assessment is  abated  or
25    deferred  shall  be  assessed against the other insurers in a
26    manner consistent with the basis for assessments set forth in
27    this subsection.  The insurer  receiving  a  deferment  shall
28    remain liable to the plan for the deficiency for 4 years.
29    (Source: P.A. 85-702; 86-1322.)
30        (215 ILCS 105/14) (from Ch. 73, par. 1314)
31        Sec. 14.  Confidentiality.
32        (a)  All  steps  necessary under State and Federal law to
33    protect insured confidentiality  of  applicants  and  covered
SB802 Enrolled              -73-              LRB9002422JSdvA
 1    persons  shall  be  undertaken  by  the  board to prevent the
 2    identification  of  individual  records  of  persons  covered
 3    insured under the Plan, rejected by the Plan, or  who  become
 4    ineligible for further participation in the Plan.  Procedures
 5    shall  Regulations  are  to be written by the board to assure
 6    the confidentiality of records  of  persons  covered  insured
 7    under,  rejected  by,  or  who  become ineligible for further
 8    participation in, the Plan when gathering and submitting data
 9    to the board or any other entity.
10        (b)  The information submitted to the board by  hospitals
11    pursuant  to  this  Act shall be privileged and confidential,
12    and shall not be disclosed  in  any  manner.   The  foregoing
13    includes, but shall not be limited to, disclosure, inspection
14    or  copying  under  The Freedom of Information Act, The State
15    Records Act, and paragraph (1) of Section 404 of the Illinois
16    Insurance Code.  However, the  prohibitions  stated  in  this
17    subsection shall not apply to the compilations of information
18    assembled  by  the board pursuant to subsections c. and e. of
19    Section 3 of this Act.
20    (Source: P.A. 85-702; 86-1322.)
21        (215 ILCS 105/15 new)
22        Sec. 15.  Alternative  portable  coverage  for  federally
23    eligible individuals.
24        (a)  Notwithstanding the requirements of subsection a. of
25    Section  7, any federally eligible individual for whom a Plan
26    application, and such enclosures and supporting documentation
27    as the Board may require, is received by the Board within  63
28    days after the termination of prior creditable coverage shall
29    qualify   to   enroll  in  the  Plan  under  the  portability
30    provisions of this Section.
31        (b)  Any  federally  eligible  individual  seeking   Plan
32    coverage  under  this  Section  must  submit  with his or her
33    application   evidence,    including    acceptable    written
SB802 Enrolled              -74-              LRB9002422JSdvA
 1    certification  of  previous  creditable  coverage,  that will
 2    establish to the Board's satisfaction, that he or  she  meets
 3    all of the requirements to be a federally eligible individual
 4    and  is  currently and permanently residing in this State (as
 5    of the date his  or  her  application  was  received  by  the
 6    Board).
 7        (c)  A   period  of  creditable  coverage  shall  not  be
 8    counted, with respect to qualifying  an  applicant  for  Plan
 9    coverage  as  a  federally  eligible  individual  under  this
10    Section,  if after such period and before the application for
11    Plan coverage was received by the Board, there was at least a
12    63 day period during all of  which  the  individual  was  not
13    covered under any creditable coverage.
14        (d)  Any  federally  eligible  individual  who  the Board
15    determines qualifies for Plan  coverage  under  this  Section
16    shall  be  offered  his  or her choice of enrolling in one of
17    alternative portability health benefit plans which the  Board
18    is  authorized  under  this  Section  to  establish for these
19    federally eligible individuals and their dependents.
20        (e)  The Board  shall  offer  a  choice  of  health  care
21    coverages  consistent  with  major medical coverage under the
22    alternative health benefit plans authorized by  this  Section
23    to  every  federally eligible individual. The coverages to be
24    offered  under  the  plans,   the   schedule   of   benefits,
25    deductibles,  co-payments,  exclusions, and other limitations
26    shall be  approved  by  the  Board.   One  optional  form  of
27    coverage   shall   be   comparable  to  comprehensive  health
28    insurance coverage offered in the individual market  in  this
29    State  or  a  standard option of coverage available under the
30    group or individual health insurance laws of the State.   The
31    standard benefit plan that is authorized by Section 8 of this
32    Act may be used for this purpose.  The Board may also offer a
33    preferred provider option and such other options as the Board
34    determines  may  be  appropriate for these federally eligible
SB802 Enrolled              -75-              LRB9002422JSdvA
 1    individuals who qualify for Plan coverage  pursuant  to  this
 2    Section.
 3        (f)  Notwithstanding the requirements of subsection f. of
 4    Section  8,  any  plan  coverage  that is issued to federally
 5    eligible individuals who qualify for the Plan pursuant to the
 6    portability provisions of this Section shall not  be  subject
 7    to  any  preexisting conditions exclusion, waiting period, or
 8    other similar limitation on coverage.
 9        (g)  Federally  eligible  individuals  who  qualify   and
10    enroll in the Plan pursuant to this Section shall be required
11    to  pay  such  premium rates as the Board shall establish and
12    approve in accordance with the requirements of Section 7.1 of
13    this Act.
14        (h)  A federally eligible individual  who  qualifies  and
15    enrolls  in the Plan pursuant to this Section must satisfy on
16    an ongoing basis all of the other eligibility requirements of
17    this Act to the extent  not  inconsistent  with  the  federal
18    Health  Insurance  Portability and Accountability Act of 1996
19    in order to maintain continued eligibility for coverage under
20    the Plan.
21        Section 94.  The Health Maintenance Organization  Act  is
22    amended by adding Section 5-3.5 as follows:
23        (215 ILCS 125/5-3.5 new)
24        Sec.  5-3.5.   Illinois  Health Insurance Portability and
25    Accountability Act.  The provisions of this Act  are  subject
26    to    the   Illinois   Health   Insurance   Portability   and
27    Accountability Act as provided in Section 15 of that Act.
28        Section 96.  The Limited Health Service Organization  Act
29    is amended by adding Section 4002.5 as follows:
30        (215 ILCS 130/4002.5 new)
SB802 Enrolled              -76-              LRB9002422JSdvA
 1        Sec.  4002.5.   Illinois Health Insurance Portability and
 2    Accountability Act.  The provisions of this Act  are  subject
 3    to    the   Illinois   Health   Insurance   Portability   and
 4    Accountability Act as provided in Section 15 of that Act.
 5        Section 98.  The Voluntary Health Services Plans  Act  is
 6    amended by adding Section 15.25 as follows:
 7        (215 ILCS 165/15.25 new)
 8        Sec.  15.25.   Illinois  Health Insurance Portability and
 9    Accountability Act. The provisions of this Act are subject to
10    the Illinois Health Insurance Portability and  Accountability
11    Act as provided in Section 15 of that Act.
12        Section  99.  Effective  date.   This Act takes effect on
13    July 1, 1997.

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