Moeller Advances Reforms to Make Health Care More Affordable, Expand Access to Care

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Illinois families will have access to better and more affordable health care coverage under a new measure backed by state Rep. Anna Moeller, D-Elgin, aiming to reduce costs and hold big insurance companies accountable.

“The fact of the matter is that healthcare has for far too long centered the needs of large, multi-billion dollar corporations versus those of working families and underserved communities,” Moeller said. “This legislation makes sure that health plans don’t get between a patient and their doctor when they are making life altering decisions, or requires that patients try alternatives to the prescribed medication, because it’s cheaper for the insurance company. These practices are not conducive to protecting people. Rather, they’ve protected profits. I am proud to join so many of my colleagues, including Governor Pritzker, to pass these landmark reforms and safeguard the health and wellbeing of Illinois communities.”

Moeller introduced House Bill 5395, which delivers a series of major reforms to make health care coverage better and more affordable. The new Health Care ProtectionAct would create a rate review process requiring insurance companies to justify premium increases, and empowering state watchdogs to reject unwarranted hikes that simply pad profits. Additionally, the measure curbs practices insurance companies use to deny access to medically necessary treatments, procedures, and prescription medications; instead, doctors and patients would be empowered to make important medical decisions—not insurance companies. The bill also stops insurance companies from selling inadequate short-term healthcare plans that provide little or no coverage.