Jones-Backed Measure to Expand Healthcare Enrollment Opportunities for Qualified Illinoisans Passes House Vote

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Thaddeus Jones, D-Calumet City, is expanding access to healthcare for people coping with economic uncertainty by passing legislation creating special
enrollment opportunities in Illinois' healthcare marketplace.

“Now more than ever, as families face rising costs and a volatile economic future, we need to do everything we can to make sure no one is denied care,” Jones said. “My legislation will make
sure that we are opening up more opportunities for uninsured Illinoisans to get covered, because communities are not their healthiest if preventable conditions for the most vulnerable are not
addressed. This expanded enrollment opportunity will also help make sure their dependents get to the checkups, screenings and other services they've had to delay due to that lack of coverage.”

Jones’ House Bill 3756 creates a special enrollment period for Illinois' state-based health insurance marketplace for purchasing private, commercial health insurance. The enrollment period would be open to interested and uninsured taxpayers requesting health insurance benefit information about estimated eligibility for insurance affordability programs including Medicaid, health insurance premium credits, and other cost-sharing reductions. Jones’ legislation allows notified taxpayers to choose a health plan within 60 days, with chosen coverage applying the first of the month following the selection of a health plan.

Jones’ House Bill 3756 passed unanimously out of the House and now heads to the Senate for consideration.