| The increasing costs of health care have made | | | | care and many others, depending upon the plan. |
| health insurance an absolute necessity. Health | | | | Illinois has special programs like KidCare and |
| insurance is more useful for people who have bad | | | | FamilyCare. Illinois is the first state to offer health |
| health records, addictions like alcohol or smoking | | | | insurance coverage for all the children in the state. |
| ,or who are likely to have future health problems. | | | | The FamilyCare health insurance program covers |
| But everyone should have a health insurance | | | | all medical care, including doctor visits, dental care, |
| policy to meet any kind of a health care need in | | | | hospital care, emergency care, specialty medical |
| the future. | | | | services, prescription drugs and others. The family |
| There are many different kinds of Illinois health | | | | has to meet certain limits to be eligible for this |
| insurance plans available today, to suit all kinds of | | | | scheme. The qualifying annual income is up to |
| people and their requirements. There are plans | | | | 185% of the federal poverty level, or about |
| from private insurance companies. Some are | | | | $36,000 for a family of four. FamilyCare Assist, |
| long-term plans, while others are short-term plans. | | | | FamilyCare Share, FamilyCare Premium and |
| Some plans are suitable only for children or the | | | | FamilyCare rebate are the plans under this, |
| elderly. There are also group plans and schemes | | | | depending upon the family income. The family can |
| such as Mediclaim provided by employers, and | | | | pay small monthly premiums ranging between $15 |
| group health plans for very small businesses. Then | | | | and $40, depending upon the number of family |
| there are plans which allow tax deductions and | | | | members. The state of Illinois offers a "safety |
| savings. The top Illinois health insurance companies | | | | net" program for individuals who have been |
| are: UniCare, Blue Cross/ Blue Shield of Illinois, | | | | denied health insurance. Those who are currently |
| Humana One, Fortis Short-Term Medical, Celtic, | | | | insured but are paying a higher premium, or those |
| American Medical Security, MedPlan Access, | | | | whose present insurance has a rider attached or |
| Genesis Health System, GE Long Term Care | | | | is rated, are also eligible to apply. |
| Insurance, and Fortis Student Select Health | | | | There are many private Illinois insurance |
| Insurance. | | | | companies that offer attractive deals on all kinds |
| The Illinois Department of Insurance provides | | | | of health insurance. You can contact an insurance |
| several public plans for people who cannot be | | | | agent to get the right health insurance policy. The |
| covered under private polices. The Illinois | | | | internet is also a very good source for obtaining |
| Comprehensive Health Insurance Plan (CHIP) is a | | | | quotes, comparing various policies and deciding on |
| state program that provides insurance to | | | | the best one. There are many ways to apply for |
| thousands of individuals who cannot be otherwise | | | | health insurance: online forms, downloadable |
| insured. The various deductible options under CHIP | | | | forms, submission of forms through e-mail and |
| are: $500, $1,000, $1,500, $2,500, and $5,000. The | | | | even phone-in applications. The typical process is |
| different plans under this are Plan 2, Plan 3 and | | | | submission of the application along with a premium |
| Plan 5. CHIP covers hospital services, professional | | | | deposit or at least a non-refundable application |
| medical services, second surgical opinions, | | | | fee; review of the application by the insurance |
| outpatient prescription drugs and medicines, | | | | company; and underwriting. The process takes a |
| Orthoses or prostheses other than dental, | | | | minimum of 2 weeks and an average of one |
| diagnostic services, emergency services, skilled | | | | month. |
| nursing facility care, home health care, hospice | | | | |