View of Illinois

In 2010, Governor Pat Quinn considered establishing a health insurance exchange via executive order. In 2011, the Governor signed SB 1555 declaring the state's intent to establish the Illinois Health Benefits Exchange. He also created the bipartisan Health Benefits Exchange Legislative Study Committee. Legislation was proposed to establish a state-based health insurance exchange (HB 4574, SB 1729, SB 1313), but it is still pending. In July, 2012, when it was determined that it would be difficult to meet the federal timetable for implementation, Governor Quinn moved in the direction of developing a state-federal partnership exchange. On October 16, 2012, Governor Quinn issued a declaration letter confirming the state's intent to pursue both plan management and consumer assistance functions in a state-federal partnership exchange in 2014, and submitted the proposed blueprint to US HHS on November 16, 2012. The Governor's intent is to transition to a fully state-based health insurance marketplace in 2015.

The public health issues considered by Illinois relate to the development of a consumer assistance portal, the design of the state's Navigator program in the exchange vs. the Small Business Health Options Program, Navigator responsibility for Medicaid eligibility and enrollment, and what Medicaid, language access, and cultural competency data will be available through the information technology system. Thirteen percent 13% of Illinois lives in poverty; 15% are uninsured, 17% on Medicaid, 15% on Medicare, 50% on employer-based coverage, 5% on individual coverage; 16% are Hispanic, 15% Black, 5% Asian American Pacific Islander; and 10% are Limited English Proficient.