It's improved. Illinois climbed four spots – from 31st to 27th – in the 2008 ranking of the healthiest states by the United Health Foundation.
The good news:
The bad news:
The state's best and worst category rankings:
See the United Health Foundation's latest findings on Illinois.
Illinois Comprehensive Health Insurance Plan
Toll-free 1-866-851-2751 (in-state only) or (217) 782-6333
Risk pools are state-sponsored programs to help people with a history of medical problems in their family to purchase coverage. These pools are for people who can afford to buy health insurance, but are not able to get underwritten in the private market because of a pre-existing health condition. These programs can vary significantly from state-to-state in price, benefits and number of people served. Often insurance companies doing business in the state are required to contribute to the poolto keep it in the black. In the best cases they allow people to be able to switch jobs or become self-employed without the fear of losing their health insurance coverage. Find more on risk pools here.
An option for the medically uninsurable is a guaranteed-issue mini-med health insurance plan. There is no underwriting and no health questions are asked.
These plans provide basic coverage but are not designed to help with catastrophic expenses. They can often count as creditable coverage, eliminating the waiting period for pre-existing conditions if you later move to an employer-based plan. Read more here.
Cover The Uninsured is a national effort to highlight the fact that too many Americans are living without health insurance and to demand solutions from our nation's leaders. Read more information on its efforts. It is a project of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
US News does an annual ranking of what it considers the best health insurance plans in each state.
Visit its reports on various health insurance or medical insurance plans being offered in Illinois.
State of Illinois Official Web Site -- Official government Web site.
All Kids Covered-- State program that offers health care coverage to children, pregnant women and their babies or helps in paying premiums of employer or private health insurance plans.
Health Care Information from the State of Illinois -- Resources that provide specific resources on Illinois health -- from Living in Illinois government Web site.
Illinois Cares -- RX help for senior citizens and the disabled in Illinois.
Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan - Health care assistance for denial of insurance benefits, slow pay on claims, claims partially cancelled, etc. Campaign for Better Health Care An Illinois coalition working to create an accessible, quality health care system for all.
Champaign County Health Care Consumers, a non-profit, grassroots organization founded on the premise of participatory democracy and the belief that meaningful reforms in the health care system will come only with the active involvement of consumers." A model site for health reform activism and health care resources for the low-income uninsured.
Chicago Tribune – Look no further than the Illinois Medicaid program to understand why more physicians are not being lured into the primary-care profession.
Contact your federal officials. President Obama needs your help to push Congress to make health insurance available, affordable and universal! Read more!
Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich
207 State House
Springfield, IL 62706
PHONE: 217-782-0244 or 312-814-2121
Contact by e-mail
Contact your Illinois State Senator
Contact your Illinois State Representative
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Illinois Insurance Carriers