Illinois Claim Denials

Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn has signed legislation to beef up protections for consumers who want to appeal health insurance claim denials. The law brings state law into line with consumer protections required by the federal Affordable Care Act. It extends appeal rights to consumers whose coverage has been rescinded and those who have been denied a benefit due to a pre-existing health condition. Sponsored by Chicago Democrats Rep. Mary Flowers and Sen. Heather Steans, it is an Illinois Department of Insurance initiative and is based on a model adopted by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. Quinn says the measure increases the fairness of the process of appealing a denial of a health insurance claim by turning it over to an independent review organization.