Illinois Healthcare Bill Addresses Denied Claims

01/10/2010

Illinois has enacted new legislation that could serve as a model for states interested in making their own health insurance policies more consumer-friendly.

According to an announcement from Governor Pat Quinn, the state will now give patients the right to have any denied health insurance claims reviewed by an independent doctor.

"This important consumer protection legislation will improve health insurance in Illinois and help people fight back when claims are unfairly denied," said Governor Quinn.

Before this new regulation was enacted, only HMO customers had the right to have denied claims handled by an external review process. Patients will have 20 business days after being denied coverage to have the review process completed. In some cases, those with urgent issues will be able to have their appeal heard in as little as 72 hours.

Quinn's office also noted that the new law will require the state's insurers to accept a standard insurance application from the small businesses they work with, sparing the companies from having to deal with unnecessarily long and complicated forms.

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