Illinois has new healthcare laws for 2025

Healthcare Protection Act went into effect Jan 1

By Tony Angeloni

Editor

A new year means new laws that have gone into effect here in Illinois. The state's health insurance industry has new restrictions to comply with.

The Healthcare Protection Act is full of measures that in large part, restrict the ways insurance companies use to maintain what type and amount of healthcare a patient will be granted. Governor J.B. Pritzker said that "For thousands of Illinoisans, the reforms in this bill will mean the difference between suffering with curable health conditions and getting the care that they need in a timely manner, and for some, this bill will quite literally save their lives."

Some of the Bills also going into effect are

-SB 2672- Requires any provider of a group or individual policy of accident and health insurance or a managed care plan to provide coverage for a brand name prescription drug if a generic drug is unavailable due to a supply issue until the drug is available.

-HB 2350- Requires companies in Illinois that provide health insurance to cover annual prostate cancer screenings, cervical smears or Pap smears for all insured patients, regardless of gender.

-SB 3538- Certain insurance plans will be required to cover mental health counseling for first responders.

-SB 2744- Requires insurance companies to cover vaccine administration fees, regardless of the type of provider administering the vaccine, without co pay or deductible.

The Leader Union sat down with Candy Rogers of PRN Professionals Home Service Agency to ask her thoughts on some of these healthcare changes for 2025.

We asked Ms. Rogers her thoughts on the law that companies now have to cover cancer, cervical screenings for all, regardless of gender. " I'm glad that the care is prevention versus treatment. It is more effective for the patient and the government." Rogers said.

When asked about her thoughts on the overall Healthcare Protection Act, Candy said, "I believe it will help a lot of people, and someone in a mental heath crisis, won't have to worry about meeting their co pay, instead, get treated and worry about billing after." Rogers went on to say about name brand substitutions, "I think it is a good thing for now, in the covering of name brand prescriptions if the generic is not available." "A lot of meds can be mixed with politics and the kickbacks, so that is something that needs to be watched."

The new laws went into effect on Jan 1st. We thank Ms. Candy Rogers for her time and can be reached at [email protected].

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