Illinois Health Insurance Requirements
- Before you buy health insurance in Illinois, make sure you understand the health insurance requirements in that state.illinois outline image by Kim Jones from Fotolia.com
When you buy health insurance, the insurance company must follow certain rules and regulations set forth by the State. In Illinois, health insurance laws are in place so that you can take advantage of certain benefits that may not be available in other states. Before you purchase health insurance in Illinois, it's a good idea to understand what those laws are, and how they can affect your premiums, coverage, and eligibility for health insurance. - Health insurance is somewhat dependent on your health status in Illinois, but a health insurance company is also limited as to how they can rate your health insurance premiums. For example, you cannot have your premiums increased under a group health insurance plan because of your health status under the non-discrimination rules in Illinois.
- All group health insurance plans must, by law, limit exclusions on pre-existing conditions. This means that only conditions that were treated or diagnosed within 6 months prior to your acceptance in the new health plan can be considered pre-existing conditions. If there was no diagnosis or treatment, this does not count as a pre-existing condition.
Also, the exclusion period cannot last for more than 12 months. Your old plans' exclusion period will be credited towards your new policy's exclusion period. This means that if your old policy had an exclusion period of 12 months, and you've had your insurance for 12 months, your exclusion period will count towards your new exclusion period. If that exclusion period is also 12 months or less, then there will be no conditions excluded from coverage under the new policy. - Your policy cannot be canceled because of your health status. As long as you've paid your premiums, your health insurance is guaranteed renewable. If you fail to pay your premiums, however, coverage can be canceled.
- State continuation coverage will take over where your old group health plan left off if you lose your job due to an involuntary termination. COBRA is meant to be temporary insurance and will cover you until you are eligible for a new group health insurance plan. You are generally not eligible for COBRA if you are eligible for a group health plan. You may also be eligible for a tax credit to pay for your COBRA premiums if your involuntary termination occurred between September 1, 2008 and December 31, 2009.
