IL House approves bill for state takeover of health exchange

Last week, the Illinois Senate approved a bill aimed at developing a state-based healthcare exchange.

The Affordable Care Act of 2010 mandates that all residents have access to an online health benefits marketplace operated by the state, the federal government or by both.

The recently passed legislation, SB 34, would progressively replace the current state-federal partnership with a system run entirely by Illinois on October 1, 2014. The Senate passed the bill in a 37-19 vote, according to The Associated Press.

The insurance exchange is scheduled to open for enrollment under state-federal management in October 2013. It will consist of a digital platform through which residents will be able to shop for and purchase insurance coverage. Under the ACA, all Americans must have health insurance beginning in 2014 or face a penalty.

The bill now moves to the House for a vote. In addition to giving the state of Illinois full control over the heatlhcare marketplace, the measure also calls for the delegation of an 11-person governing board tasked with certifying plans sold on the exchange that have already been approved by the Illinois Department of Insurance.