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