2005 Insurance Legislative Summary

HOUSE BILLS

HB 0059 INSUR-MNTL HLTH PARITY-SUNSET

(PA94-0402) – Effective August 2, 2005

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. In provisions requiring an insurer that provides coverage for hospital or medical expenses under a group policy of accident and health insurance or health care plan to provide coverage under the policy for treatment of serious mental illness under the same terms and conditions as coverage for hospital or medical expenses related to other illnesses and diseases (commonly referred to as "mental health parity"), eliminates the December 31, 2005 sunset date that applies to those provisions.

HB 0197 CHIP-ELIGIBILITY-AWARD AMOUNT

(PA94-0017) – Effective January 1, 2006

Amends the Comprehensive Health Insurance Plan Act. Provides that a person is not eligible for coverage under the Comprehensive Health Insurance Plan if the person has or later receives benefits or funds from a settlement, judgment, or award resulting from an accident or injury and the remaining amount exceeds $300,000.

HB 0265 AUTO INS-USE OF CREDIT INFO

(PA94-0245) – Effective July 1, 2006

Amends the Use of Credit Information in Personal Insurance Act. Requires an insurer authorized to do business in Illinois that uses credit information to underwrite or rate risks to review and consider an exception to the insurance risk score based upon extraordinary life events after a receiving written and signed notification from the applicant or insurer explaining how the applicant or insured believes the event adversely impacted the applicant's or insured's insurance risk score. Provides a definition of "extraordinary life event".

HB 0316 INS FEE DISCLOSE-EXPIRATIONS

(PA94-0248) – Effective July 19, 2005

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Changes the name of business organizations licensed to sell insurance from registered firm to business entity to conform usage to changes made by Public Act 92-386.  Further amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that a guaranty association or the Illinois Insurance Guaranty Fund must report any amounts collected for claims payments reimbursement from policyholders to the Secretary of Financial and Professional Regulation as rehabilitator or liquidator (rather than as rehabilitator, liquidator, or conservator) when collecting after the Secretary as rehabilitator or liquidator fails to collect the reimbursements. Makes other changes.

HB 0373 PENCD-ARTS 3 & 7-TRANSFERS

(PA94-0356) – Effective July 29, 2005

Amends the Downstate Police and IMRF Articles of the Illinois Pension Code. Authorizes a member of a downstate police fund who has up to 8 years of creditable service under IMRF to transfer his or her service credit under IMRF to that downstate police fund. Authorizes a member of IMRF who has up to 8 years of creditable service in a fund under the Downstate Police Article to transfer his or her service credit under that downstate police fund to IMRF. Provides that if the amount transferred under this amendatory Act is less than the true cost to the receiving pension fund of allowing that creditable service to be established, then the amount of creditable service the person may establish under this amendatory Act shall be reduced by a corresponding amount.  Changes an obsolete reference to the Department of Insurance. In provisions amending the IMRF Article, replaces references to the Public Pension Division with references to the board and removes reporting requirements related to calculations made to transfer the credits.

HB 0393 INSURANCE-TECH

(PA93-0918) – Effective January 1, 2005

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Provides that nonprofit risk organizations organized under Article VIID of the Illinois Insurance Code, are exempt from the tax imposed under the Act. Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Allows domestic mutual companies or reciprocals, including such companies organized as a risk retention group, to be organized as nonprofit risk organizations.  Provides that the certificate of authority the Director may issue to a nonprofit risk organization is a certificate of authority to write casualty, fidelity, surety, fire, and marine insurance.

HB 0612 PENSIONS-TECH

(PA93-1090) – Effective March 11, 2005

Amends the Downstate Firefighter Article of the Illinois Pension Code. For a firefighter who does not have at least 20 years of service credit in any Article 4 pension fund but has at least 20 years of combined service credit in 2 or more Article 4 pension funds and who elects to receive a pension based on that combined service, increases the contribution rate from 1/12 of 1% of monthly salary for each month of service to 1% of monthly salary for each month of service. For firefighters who have elected to receive a pension based on combined service and who have contributed 1/12 of 1% of monthly salary for each month of that service, requires and additional contribution of 11/12ths of 1% of that monthly salary. Beginning July 1, 2004, increases the minimum pension payable to the surviving spouse of a firefighter who died while he or she was a deferred pensioner with at least 20 years of creditable service or while he or she was in active service having at least 20 years of creditable service to 100% of the retirement pension that the deceased firefighter was receiving at the time of death. Provides that, beginning July 1, 2004, upon the death of a firefighter who dies while disabled and receiving a line of duty disability pension, occupational disease disability pension, or a non-duty disability pension, the disability pension shall be paid in its entirety to the firefighter's survivors. (Currently, the amounts of those pensions, when paid to survivors, are subject to certain limitations). Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement.

HB 0911 INTERGOVT COOP-INSURANCE

(PA94-0685) – Effective November 2, 2005

Amends the Intergovernmental Cooperation Act. Provides that no joint insurance pool or intergovernmental cooperative offering health insurance shall interfere with a public agency's required collective bargaining subjects or discriminate or retaliate against a public agency member that limits its participation as a result of collective bargaining. No intergovernmental insurance contract offering health insurance shall limit the collective bargaining rights or obligations of public agency members. With respect to intergovernmental insurance contracts relating to health, life, or life and health insurance, provides that the pool or contract may permit re-pricing of the costs of coverage for continuing officers and employees when a member withdraws officers or employees into a union-supported program. Prohibits expelling a member from the pool or cooperative if the continuing officers and employees meet general criteria required of all members.  Provides that the prohibition against joint insurance pools and intergovernmental cooperatives interfering with certain collective bargaining rights and obligations does not apply to the State and its agencies.

HB 1391 UNCLAIMED PROP-DEMUTUALIZATION

(PA94-0686) – Effective November 2, 2005

Amends the Uniform Disposition of Unclaimed Property Act. Provides that funds and stock distributable in the course of a demutualization, rehabilitation, or related reorganization of an insurance company shall be deemed abandoned in the listed time frames. Provides that funds and stock deemed abandoned in the course of a demutualization, rehabilitation, or related reorganization of an insurance company shall be held in the Demutualization Trust Fund. Provides that the State Treasurer shall set a date that the required report and remittance of the funds and stock deemed abandoned in the course of a demutualization, rehabilitation, or related reorganization of an insurance company shall be filed. Provides that the names of owners that are identified and contacted directly by the State Treasurer do not have to be published as required under the notice requirements. Amends the State Finance Act. Creates the Demutualization Trust Fund. Exempts the Demutualization Trust Fund from transfers to the General Revenue Fund.  Provides that the date that the report must be filed shall be the later of (i) 30 days after the effective date of the amendatory Act of the 94th General Assembly, or (ii) November 1, 2005.  Recommends that the following be deleted: (i) language exempting the Demutualization Trust Fund from transfers to the General Revenue Fund; and (ii) language exempting the Demutualization Trust Fund from provisions authorizing the allocation of certain amounts between the General Revenue Fund and other funds.

HB 1403 PENSION FUND BDS-FIREFIGHTERS

(PA94-0317) – Effective July 25, 2005

Amends the Downstate Firefighter Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides for the creation of boards of trustees for fire protection districts. Provides for the termination of the terms of office of the existing boards and for the appointment and election of new 5-member boards.

HB 2137 EMPLOYMENT-TECH (Workers Compensation)

(PA94-0277) – Effective January 1, 2006

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Requires certain advisory organizations to file reports with the Secretary of Financial and Professional Regulation and make those reports available, on an aggregate basis, to the General Assembly and to the general public. Amends the Workers' Compensation Act by making numerous changes regarding failure of an employer to provide coverage as required by the Act, payments for burial expenses, payments and transfers to the Rate Adjustment Fund, standards for payments for accidental injuries and medical expenses, payment of health care providers in accordance with fee schedules, creation of a Workers' Compensation Medical Fee Advisory Board, utilization review programs for workers' compensation services, payments to employees requested by an employer to submit to medical examinations, appointment of 3 additional members to the Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission, expanding the membership of the Workers' Compensation Advisory Board and changing its composition, submission of records, reports, and bills to the Commission, procedures in contested cases and violations related to contested cases, penalties for false or fraudulent claims and statements and other fraud, and other matters. Makes corresponding changes in the Workers' Occupational Diseases Act. Contains applicability and inseverability provisions.  Makes a change in the definition of "utilization review".

HB 2190 REGULATION-TECH

(PA94-0584) – Effective January 1, 2006

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Changes the meaning of "serious mental illness" to include post-traumatic stress disorder (acute, chronic, or with delayed onset).

HB 2375 INS-HIPAA RENEW AND NOTICE

(PA94-0502) – Effective August 8, 2005

Amends the Illinois Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. Provides definitions of "affiliate", "control", and "person". Provides that, if a health insurance issuer elects to discontinue offering all health insurance coverage in the individual market in Illinois, health insurance coverage may be discontinued by the issuer if, in the case where the issuer has affiliates in the individual market, the issuer gives notice to each affected individual at least 180 days prior to the date of the expiration of coverage of the individual's option to purchase all other individual health benefit plans currently offered by any affiliate of the carrier. Provides that, if an issuer elects to discontinue offering all health insurance coverage in the individual market, its affiliates shall offer an individual health benefit plan to all individuals nonrenewed by that issuer on a guarantee issue basis, if the individual applies for coverage no later than 63 days after the discontinuation of coverage. Provides that, in any case where a health insurance issuer elects to uniformly modify coverage, uniformly terminate coverage, or discontinue coverage in a marketplace, the issuer shall provide notice to the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation prior to notifying the plan sponsors, participants, beneficiaries, and covered individuals.  Provides that if an insurer elects to discontinue offering all health insurance coverage in the individual market, its affiliates that offer health insurance coverage in the individual market in Illinois (now, just affiliates) shall offer individual health insurance coverage (now, benefit plans) to all individuals if the individual applies for coverage within a certain time period. Provides that the changes made by the amendatory Act apply only to discontinuances of coverage occurring on or after the effective date. Makes other changes.

HB 4125 INS-AUTISM COVERAGE

(PA94-0906) – Effective January 1, 2007

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that a group health benefit plan shall provide coverage for 20 additional outpatient visits for speech therapy for treatment of pervasive developmental disorders that will be in addition to speech therapy provided pursuant to other outpatient treatment coverage required by the Section. Amends the Health Maintenance Organization Act to subject health maintenance organizations to the provisions of a Section of the Illinois Insurance Code concerning mental and emotional disorders.

HB 4712 CONSUMER FRAUD-SOC SEC NUMBER

(PA93-0739) - Effective July 1, 2006

Amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Makes it an unlawful practice to publicly post or display an individual's social security number, print an individual's social security number on any card required to access products or services, require an individual to transmit his or her social security number over the Internet, require an individual to use his or her social security number to access an Internet web site, or print an individual's social security number on materials that are mailed to the individual, subject to various exceptions. The bill also provides that a person or entity that provides an insurance card must print on the card an identification number unique to the holder of the card in the format prescribed by the Uniform Prescription Drug Information Card Act.

The provisions of this law do not apply to the collection, use, or release of a social security number by the State, a subdivision of the State, or an individual in the employ of the State or a subdivision of the State in connection with his or her official duties.

SENATE BILLS

SB 0012 INS-MAMMOGRAMS

(PA94-0121) – Effective July 6, 2005

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code and the Health Maintenance Organization Act. Requires coverage of mammograms for women under 40 years of age with a family history of breast cancer or other risk factors at the age and intervals deemed medically necessary by the woman's health care provider.

SB 0023 STATE INVESTMENTS-SUDAN

(PA94-0079) – Effective January 27, 2006

Amends the Deposit of State Moneys Act. Provides that the State Treasurer may not deposit any funds or otherwise transact any business with any financial institution unless an expressly authorized officer of that financial institution certifies that the financial institution has not, during any time following the effective date, loaned to or invested in certain entities involved with the Republic of Sudan. Amends the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that a fiduciary with respect to a retirement system or pension fund established under that Code shall not, directly or through a fund manager, transact any business with any company unless an expressly authorized officer of that company certifies that the company has not engaged in certain activities concerning the Republic of Sudan. Amends the Uniform Deceptive Trade Practices Act. Provides that any person regulated by the Division of Financial Institutions of the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation or by the United States Securities Exchange Commission engages in a deceptive trade practice when, in the course of his or her business, vocation, or occupation, that person represents that he or she does not support nations that sponsor terrorism, if that person has, at any time following the effective date, issued a credit or loan to, purchased bonds or commercial paper issued by, invested in, agreed to tender goods or services to, or agreed to obtain goods or services from certain nations identified by the United States as a terrorism sponsoring nation or certain entities doing business with those nations.

SB 0475 INS-CHIP COAL MINER CVG

(including Medical Liability Insurance legislative changes)

(PA94-0677) – Effective August 25, 2005

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Makes various changes concerning medical liability insurance rates and regulation. Requires medical liability insurers to report medical liability insurance claims and specified information to the Secretary. Provides that, for a medical liability insurance rate increase filing, the Secretary may hold a hearing and receive testimony. Requires court clerks to provide information to the Secretary to verify reports made to the Secretary, and amends the Clerks of Courts Act accordingly. Amends the Medical Practice Act of 1987. Adds 2 members of the public to the Illinois State Medical Disciplinary Board. Provides that all members of the Disciplinary Board shall be voting members. Provides additional criteria for members of the Disciplinary Board who are physicians licensed to practice medicine in all its branches. Provides for appointment of at least 2 deputy medical coordinators, and not less than one full time investigator for every 2,500 physicians. Makes changes concerning discipline, disciplinary proceedings, records, disclosures, incidents to which the Act applies, and immunity. Requires the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation to make available to the public a profile of each physician containing specified information. Amends the Code of Civil Procedure by: changing provisions concerning the affidavit and report based on the determination of a reviewing health professional; providing for payment of future medical expenses and costs of life care in a medical malpractice action under certain circumstances by purchasing an annuity; limiting recoveries from hospitals and physicians for non-economic loss in medical malpractice actions; providing that a statement that a health care provider is "sorry" for an outcome is not admissible as evidence under specified conditions; and changing provisions concerning expert witness standards. Amends the Illinois Good Samaritan Act to expand immunity from civil damages for services performed without compensation at, or upon referral from, free medical clinics. Creates the Sorry Works! Pilot Program Act under which hospitals and physicians may acknowledge and apologize for mistakes in patient care and offer fair settlements. Provides that, if the costs of cases handled under the Sorry Works! protocol by a hospital exceed the costs that would have been incurred otherwise, the hospital may apply for a grant from the Sorry Works! Fund. Makes other changes. Contains inseverability provisions.

SB 0521 INS-OVAR CANCER SURVEIL TEST

(PA94-0122) – Effective January 1, 2006

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Requires insurers to cover surveillance tests for ovarian cancer for female insureds who are at risk for ovarian cancer. Provides a definition for "at risk for ovarian cancer" and "surveillance tests for ovarian cancer".  Requires surveillance tests (rather than routine surveillance tests) for ovarian cancer for female insureds who are at risk for ovarian cancer. Changes the definition of "at risk for ovarian cancer" to include having a family history with one or more first-degree (rather than first or second-degree) relatives with ovarian cancer. Changes the definition of "surveillance tests for ovarian cancer" to delete screenings using other proven ovarian screening tests currently being evaluated by the federal Food and Drug Administration or by the National Cancer Institute.

SB 2339 INS CD-CANCER TRIALS-TECH

(PA93-1000) - Effective January 1, 2005

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that no individual or group policy of accident and health insurance issued or renewed in this State may be cancelled or non-renewed based on that individual's participation in a qualified cancer trial. SB 2339 provides that qualified cancer trials must meet specified criteria. It amends the Health Maintenance Organization Act, the Voluntary Health Services Plans Act, and the Illinois Public Aid Code to provide that plans under those Acts are subject to the new provisions of the Illinois Insurance Code.

SB 2404 INSURANCE-TECH 

(PA93-1083) - Effective February 7, 2005

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that companies must file forms electronically through the System for Electronic Rate and Form Filing (SERFF). In provisions regarding policy forms, requires the Department of Insurance to mail a quarterly invoice to insurance companies for the appropriate filing fees. The bill removes language providing that fees charged for a policy filed as it will be issued regardless of the number of forms comprising that policy shall not exceed $1,000 or $2,000 for advisory or rating organizations.

Adds language providing that the Director as rehabilitator, liquidator, or conservator may not avoid a transfer to the extent that the transfer was, in the case of a transfer by a company where the Director has determined that a regulatory action level event or an authorized control event has occurred, specifically approved by the Director in writing, whether or not the company is in receivership. It provides that a proof of claim upon the liquidation, rehabilitation, or conservation of a company must identify a known loss or occurrence (rather than a particular claim). Also, provides that the claim may be allowed by estimation. The bill provides that specified contingent or unliquidated general creditors' and ceding insurers' claims may (rather than shall) be determined and allowed by estimation. It provides that the estimation and allowance of the loss development on a known loss or occurrence shall trigger a reinsurer's obligation to pay pursuant to its reinsurance contract with the insolvent company. Also, provides that that portion of any estimated and allowed contingent claim that is attributable to claims incurred but not reported to the insolvent company's reinsured shall not be billable to the insolvent company's reinsurers. It provides that the liquidator may negotiate a voluntary commutation and release of all obligations arising from reinsurance contracts or other agreements. Changes made in these provisions by the amendatory Act do not apply to any company ordered into liquidation on or before January 1, 2004. Provisions added by this amendment are effective immediately.

SB 2491 INSURANCE-TECH 

(PA93-0713) - Effective January 1, 2005

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. In provisions requiring notices of assignment, transfer, renewal, or cancellation of a policy, gives the respective parties the option to accept notification electronically. The bill provides that, for the purposes of provisions regarding notice of cancellation, any governmental agency, mortgagee, or other third party may opt to receive notices electronically.

SB 2545 CONSUMER FRAUD-INSURANCE-SSN 

(PA93-0728) - Effective January 1, 2005 (except for certain provisions)

Amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Provides that a person or entity may not print an individual's social security number on an insurance card that is used to establish the eligibility of an individual or his or her dependents to receive health, dental, optical, or accident insurance benefits, prescription drug benefits, or benefits under a managed care plan or a plan provided by a health maintenance organization, a health services plan corporation, or a similar entity. Provides that existing insurance cards with an individual's social security number must be replaced with insurance cards without the individual's social security number (this provision is effective January 1, 2006). The bill provides that a person or entity that provides an insurance card must print on the card an identification number unique to the holder of the card in the format prescribed by the Uniform Prescription Drug Information Card Act. Also, provides that a violation constitutes an unlawful practice within the meaning of the Act.

SB 2744 INS BONE MASS OSTEOPOROSIS 

(PA93-0853) - Effective January 1, 2005

Amends the State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971, the Counties Code, the Illinois Municipal Code, the School Code, the Illinois Insurance Code, the Health Maintenance Organization Act, the Voluntary Health Services Plans Act, and the Illinois Public Aid Code to require coverage for bone mass measurement and treatment of osteoporosis.

SB 2617 INS – INDIV DEFERRED ANNUITY

(PA 93-1077) effective January 18, 2005 

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code, the Health Maintenance Organization Act, and the Limited Health Service Organization Act. Provides that insurers, health maintenance organizations, and limited health service organizations may not require a provider, as a condition of participation by the provider, to purchase ophthalmic goods or services (rather than just ophthalmic goods), including but not limited to eyeglass frames in a quantity or dollar amount in excess of the quantity or dollar amount an enrollee purchases (rather than is required to purchase) under the terms of the policy.

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