Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced that Illinois has been conditionally approved to operate a State Partnership Marketplace (Exchange), which will be ready for open enrollment in October 2013. This partnership will allow Illinois to make key decisions and tailor the marketplace to local needs and market conditions.
Secretary Sebelius said the exchange will be ready in eight months at which point residents of Illinois will be able to use the new marketplace to compaare and purchase health insurance plans. State leaders will work between now and October 1st to educate Illinois residents about the health care coverage options they will have through the Marketplace.
With Illinois’ conditional approval, twenty states and the District of Columbia have been conditionally approved to partially or fully run a marketplace – with the remaining states having until Feb. 15, 2013, to apply for a State Partnership Marketplace.
Because of the Affordable Care Act, consumers and small businesses will, beginning next January, have access to a new marketplace, where they can access private health plans. These comprehensive health plans will ensure consumers have the same kinds of insurance choices as members of Congress, and will not be able to be denied coverage because of a pre-existing condition.
Consumers in every state will be able to buy insurance from qualified health plans directly through these marketplaces and may be eligible for tax credits and cost sharing assistance to help pay for their health insurance and out of pocket costs.