McHenry Times

After the Illinois Department of Insurance announced health insurance rates for 2017, Rep. Randy Hultgren (R-IL) called for Congressional help for Illinois residents.

“Since I took office in 2011, I have been committed to finding more affordable free market alternatives to the ACA (Affordable Care Act)," Hultgren said. "That’s why I continue to push my bill, the State Health Care Options Act (HR. 3352), which would give states like Illinois immediate and real access to the ACA’s existing innovation waiver, granting them an immediate parachute off the daunting cost increases, smaller plan networks and an increasingly limited state exchange market.”

Health insurance rates are skyrocketing for Illinois families who purchase insurance through the federal health insurance exchange. The liquidation of the Land of Lincoln co-op and the decision by Aetna to leave the state has exacerbated the growing problem. In some Illinois counties, including McHenry, Lake and Kendall, there is only one available provider – Blue Cross Blue Shield plans provided by the Health Care Services Corp. (HCSC).

Rates for bronze plans through Blue Cross Blue Shield will rise between 47 and 51 percent, depending on the subscriber's county. Silver plans will see rate hikes of approximately 30 to 59 percent and gold plans will rise 40 to 60 percent. HCSC exchange plans may rise as much as 77.3 percent.

“It’s difficult to overestimate the damage this will do to Illinoisans already struggling to afford health insurance," Hultgren said. "This news demonstrates a critical failure in the law which no longer provides the affordable health care or access it promised. We are now witnessing the monopolization of health insurance in Illinois — a devastating reality for many of my constituents who have no choice but to pay exorbitant premiums, drug costs and copays for coverage chosen for them by a failed law and a broken market. It’s clear now that there is no ceiling on premium costs and deductibles under the ACA. We are now past the tipping point — both sides of the aisle must put politics aside and come together immediately to fix this law’s clear, fundamental problems.”