On Aug. 31, the state's chief procurement officer approved contract
extensions for all current group health insurance providers through
June 30, 2012. The current contracts had been set expire on Sept.
28. "Thousands of Illinois citizens have faced months of questions
and uncertainty about their health care and access to their doctors,
ever since the announcement in April that the state was dropping
Health Alliance and Humana insurance plans from (the) state's group
health insurance program," Brady said. "It really is unconscionable
the way this situation has been handled by the current
administration. Callers to my legislative offices have questioned
why the change was done so secretly, quickly and without the input
of the patients who will be affected."
CMS Group Insurance also announced that it will have a special
enrollment period Oct. 10-28, with changes being effective Dec. 1.
This enrollment period will be offered to all members but is limited
to changing health insurance providers only.
State employees and retirees should check out the CMS website at
http://www.state.il.us/cms/
3_servicese_ben_choice/state-ben.htm if they have any questions.
[Text from file sent on behalf
of
Sen.
Bill Brady by
Illinois Senate Republican staff]
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