State commission aims to change free health care for state retirees

The free health care could be over for state retirees in Illinois.

A legislative panel, the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability, is commissioning a study to help build “an income-based formula.”

The director of the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services, Julie Hamos told the lawmakers the state is providing health benefits to 84,000 retirees, more than 90 percent of whom pay no premiums. Those who do pay contribute a total of $11.9 million, barely making a dent in the state’s $473 million in expenses.

The commission voted unanimously for the study, which will be put out for bid. State Senator Matt Murphy said he hoped lawmakers pushing for this would not be left hung out to dry, and commission co-chair State Senator Jeff Schoenberg said he personally told Gov. Pat Quinn he expects to give the governor a bill for this, and he expects the governor to sign it.

The matter is subject to collective bargaining on behalf of most of the retirees.