| The increasing costs of health care have | | | | individuals who cannot be otherwise |
| made health insurance an absolute | | | | insured. The various deductible options |
| necessity. Health insurance is more | | | | under CHIP are: $500, $1,000, $1,500, |
| useful for people who have bad health | | | | $2,500, and $5,000. The different plans |
| records, addictions like alcohol or | | | | under this are Plan 2, Plan 3 and Plan |
| smoking ,or who are likely to have | | | | 5. CHIP covers hospital services, |
| future health problems. But everyone | | | | professional medical services, second |
| should have a health insurance policy to | | | | surgical opinions, outpatient |
| meet any kind of a health care need in | | | | prescription drugs and medicines, |
| the future.There are many different | | | | Orthoses or prostheses other than |
| kinds of Illinois health insurance plans | | | | dental, diagnostic services, emergency |
| available today, to suit all kinds of | | | | services, skilled nursing facility care, |
| people and their requirements. There are | | | | home health care, hospice care and many |
| plans from private insurance companies. | | | | others, depending upon the plan.Illinois |
| Some are long-term plans, while others | | | | has special programs like KidCare and |
| are short-term plans. Some plans are | | | | FamilyCare. Illinois is the first state |
| suitable only for children or the | | | | to offer health insurance coverage for |
| elderly. There are also group plans and | | | | all the children in the state. The |
| schemes such as Mediclaim provided by | | | | FamilyCare health insurance program |
| employers, and group health plans for | | | | covers all medical care, including |
| very small businesses. Then there are | | | | doctor visits, dental care, hospital |
| plans which allow tax deductions and | | | | care, emergency care, specialty medical |
| savings. The top Illinois health | | | | services, prescription drugs and others. |
| insurance companies are: UniCare, Blue | | | | The family has to meet certain limits to |
| Cross/ Blue Shield of Illinois, Humana | | | | be eligible for this scheme. The |
| One, Fortis Short-Term Medical, Celtic, | | | | qualifying annual income is up to 185% |
| American Medical Security, MedPlan | | | | of the federal poverty level, or about |
| Access, Genesis Health System, GE Long | | | | $36,000 for a family of four. FamilyCare |
| Term Care Insurance, and Fortis Student | | | | Assist, FamilyCare Share, FamilyCare |
| Select Health Insurance.The Illinois | | | | Premium and FamilyCare rebate are the |
| Department of Insurance provides several | | | | plans under this, depending upon the |
| public plans for people who cannot be | | | | family income. The family can pay small |
| covered under private polices. The | | | | monthly premiums ranging between $15 and |
| Illinois Comprehensive Health Insurance | | | | $40, depending upon the number of family |
| Plan (CHIP) is a state program that | | | | members. |
| provides insurance to thousands of | | | | |