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The Illinois Office of Consumer Health Insurance is a part of the Illinois Division of Insurance, which is responsible for regulating all types of insurance sold in the Illinois - including health insurance policies.
If you are looking for health insurance coverage, they have lists of insurance agents and insurance companies licensed to do business in Illinois. Contact the Division of Insurance for more information. Or, to find out if a particular agent or insurance company is licensed to do business in Illinois, you can use their online search tool.
If you are having trouble resolving a claims dispute with your insurer, you can file a complaint with the Division of Insurance. Information on how to file a complaint can be found here.
Illinois Division of Insurance - Office of Consumer Health Insurance
320 West Washington Street
Springfield, Illinois 62767
Phone: 877-527-9431
U.S. Department of Labor
If you get your insurance through your job, your plan is also regulated by the U.S. Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA). They make and enforce the rules that your employer must follow when offering health insurance coverage to employees - for example, your employer cannot single out an individual employee to exclude her from the plan because she (or one of her dependents) has a costly illness. Also, if there are 20 or more employees at your job, you should be offered COBRA continuation coverage when you leave your job. The EBSA works to make sure that all of this happens and your rights are protected.
If you have concerns about your employer's practices in administering your job-based health coverage - for example, if you think you should have been offered COBRA continuation coverage, but were not, or if you feel that you were wrongly terminated from your health plan - contact your regional EBSA office.
U.S. Department of Labor Employee Benefits Security Administration
Chicago Regional Office (Northern IL)
200 West Adams Street, Suite 1600
Chicago, IL 60606
Steve Haugen - Acting Director
Phone: 312-353-0900
Fax: 312-353-1023
Kansas City Regional Office (Southern IL)
1100 Main Street, Suite 1200
Kansas City, MO 64105-5148
Steve Eischen - Director
Phone: 816-426-5131
Fax: 816-426-5511
Buying Individual Policies in Illinois
As a general rule, insurers in Illinois are allowed to reject your application for coverage based on your health status. However, you may qualify for coverage as a "HIPAA-eligible" individual if you:
- had at least 18 months of continuous creditable coverage, the last day of which was under a group plan AND
- you have exhausted all COBRA continuation coverage which was available to you.
People who are HIPAA-eligible are guaranteed the right to buy insurance through the Illinois Comprehensive Health Insurance Plan (described below). If you are not sure whether you are a HIPAA-eligible individual, your insurance agent or the Office of Consumer Insurance can help you find out.
Illinois Comprehensive Health Insurance Plan (ICHIP)
ICHIP offers coverage to individuals who are unable to purchase an individual health insurance policy because they have pre-existing health conditions. It also covers "HIPAA-eligible" individuals as described above. The ICHIP website allows you to apply for coverage online, or to download forms and brochures containing more information about the program.
Illinois Comprehensive Health Insurance Plan
320 West Washington Street, Suite 700
Springfield, Illinois 62701-1150
Phone: 866-851-2751 (toll free in Illinois) or 217-782-6333
Illinois All Kids - the state Children's Health Insurance Program
Illinois All Kids provides health insurance coverage for children age 18 and younger who do not have health insurance. Those children who already have health insurance coverage may still qualify if their family meets certain income guidelines.
Illinois All Kids
Phone: 1-866-ALL-KIDS (1-866-255-5437)
Illinois Senior Health Insurance Program
The Illinois Senior Health Insurance Program provides free one-on-one counseling for Medicare beneficiaries with questions about any aspect of Medicare, including the new Part D prescription drug benefit, or Medigap coverage.
Illinois Senior Health Insurance Program
Illinois Division of Insurance
320 West Washington Street
Springfield, Illinois 62767-0001
Phone: 800-548-9034 (toll free in Illinois) OR 217-785-9021 (outside Illinois)
TDD: 217-524-4872
Email: FPR.SHIP@illinois.gov
Illinois Medicaid
Medicaid is a government program designed to help the poor and indigent obtain health care services. Pregnant women and children under age 19 who meet certain income requirements may be eligible for Medicaid coverage, along with aged, blind, and disabled individuals. For more information about eligibility, contact the Department of Human Services Office in your area or call the Helpline at 800-843-6154.
Illinois Medicaid
Department of Human Services Helpline: 800-843-6154
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