(Photo courtesy www.ilga.gov)
By Illinois Radio Network
SPRINGFIELD – Of the more than 250 new laws that take effect New Year’s Day in Illinois, two deal with insurance coverage that could affect 20 percent of insurance plans statewide.
One new law enacted this year and set to take effect New Year’s Day mandates insurance coverage for children’s epinephrine injectors when such devices are deemed medically necessary. Another measure beginning Jan. 1 allows insurance companies to offer optional coverage for hearing aids and sets the maximum cost at $2,500 for two years.
State Rep. Tom Demmer said such laws only apply to insurance policies the state has legal authority over.
“So when you see a story that says ‘this kind of coverage is now required, the insurance to cover x y and z in Illinois or there’s a restriction placed on something,’ that only applies to plans that are licensed and regulated by the [Illinois] Department of Insurance,” Demmer said.
He estimated when the state passes insurance laws, those state laws affect about 20 percent of the industry.
“So that doesn’t affect Medicare, for example, that’s a federal program,” Demmer said. “It doesn’t affect the plans that are offered typically by larger employers, which are regulated by the federal government.”
During the fall veto session, lawmakers passed a measure capping insulin prices to $100 a month. However, Senate Bill 667 has yet to be signed. Although the governor has indicated he will sign it into law, that measure won’t take effect until Jan. 1, 2021. That law will only apply to state-regulated insurance policies.
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