IL Health Insurance Articles & Info

When you’ve had the same health insurance plan for any extended period of time, it can be easy to forget about it until you actually need it.  Or, until you discover a consistent pattern of premium increases, variables in your deductible, hospital/physician network changes, and so on.&nbs...

The stretch between April and November is, understandably, one of the most popular times for companies to renew their group health plans.  There’s no real science to account for this.  It’s simply a matter of timing, and something that can be attributed back to the month when t...

With the health insurance Open Enrollment period serving as the new norm, many have been left wondering what they're supposed to do if they missed the enrollment deadline, but don’t want to go without quality medical coverage throughout the summer months?  Here are a few suitable opti...

One of the most frequently voiced concerns we hear from our group health insurance customers, is how substantially premiums have increased for employee health benefits.  And they couldn’t be more right.  Just when a business begins to get comfortable with their new premiums, find the...

Even for those who have experience shopping for health insurance, the process has become increasingly complicated over the past few years.  There are more plans to choose from, new carriers entering the market, subsidy options, constantly-evolving compliance regulations to consider, and much mo...

It makes no difference whether you’re an individual, a family or a thriving local business, when it comes to keeping your health insurance premiums manageable, there are a few things that everyone needs to know before committing to a healthcare plan.  This is especially true for those who...

Starting a new businesses is one of the most exciting, and subsequently terrifying things an individual can do in this lifetime.  And regardless of your chosen industry, if you’re planning on offering health insurance benefits to your employees, there are a number of things to keep in min...

Starting a new business is, ironically enough, one of the scariest and most rewarding things a person can do in this lifetime.  The freedom of working for yourself provides great feelings of accomplishment, yet at the same time, the newfound responsibilities can be unpredictably overwhelming du...

The annual health insurance Open Enrollment period will begin on Monday November 1st 2021 and end on January 15th 2022.  As with previous years, this year will bring a variety of changes and new plan options.  Keep in mind that in order to have active coverage on the first of the upcoming...

As many employers in Illinois have learned, COBRA continuation health insurance has changed dramatically in response to the 2021 American Rescue Plan Act (ARP).  As of the time of this writing, any employee who did not leave their position voluntarily is now eligible to receive free COBRA (or I...

For those who have been wondering whether or not it was possible to purchase health insurance under the 2021 Special Enrollment Period (SEP), it was recently announced that enrollment has been extended until August 15, 2021.  The decision was made in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, moreover...

Effective April 1st 2021, under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, many individuals and families who did not previously qualify for health insurance subsides (on account of earning a higher income) will now qualify for a healthcare subsidy, which could significantly lower their monthly health ins...

It was announced in March that Indy Health Insurance Company, a standalone Medicare Part-D provider serving Illinois and several other states, had been immediately terminated. As a result of this cancellation, and as a measure of preventing coverage gaps, a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) was initia...

From February 15th to May 15th, 2021 In accordance with an Executive Order issued by President Biden, the formation of a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) has been declared for individuals and families, in response to the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency which has left millions of Americans facing...

Considering the vast scope of everything that’s taken place in 2020, it’s understandable that this year’s health insurance open enrollment has an all new element of importance to it.  Here are some of the most important dates for those in need of medical insurance, including M...

Enrollment for 2021 Medicare plans begins on October 15th and will run until December 7th 2020.  As with past enrollment periods, there are some plan changes that are new for 2021, including a few which have been implemented to help beneficiaries during the COVID-19 pandemic. This is a complex...

If you’re an Illinois resident who needs to purchase a new health insurance plan, or alter your existing coverage, the 2021 Open Enrollment period begins on November 1st 2020 and will run until December 15th.  And while the dates are consistent to those over the past few years, it goes wi...

One of the less talked-about aspects of COVID-19 and its effect on commerce, is the profound impact it is having on businesses who are in the process of group health plan renewals.  We’ve all heard about the layoffs, the furloughs, and the temporary closures, though there seems to be limi...

No one needs to be reminded of how significantly things have changed in 2020, as virtually every aspect of day to day life has been affected by the COVID-19 Coronavirus pandemic.  This is especially true for business owners and HR managers, as many have found themselves in the uncomfortable pos...

As Illinois gradually begins the process of reopening after three long months of COVID-19 stay-at-home orders, Premier wanted to take a break from our health insurance forum to go over a few ways to help support the small businesses who have been hit exceptionally hard by the pandemic.   Sho...

We at Premier thought we  would take a break from our traditional health insurance blog forum to share some feedback from clients, friends, and others in the Chicagoland area who have told us how they’re keeping their families sane, safe and active during the Coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic...

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected virtually every aspect of how millions of people live, work and socialize.  Additionally, it has forced many to reconsider their decision to not carry health insurance coverage for a variety of reasons.  Countless Illinois residents who chose not to purch...

We wanted to take a few moments to go over some of the more pressing issues surrounding health insurance and how it’s been affected by the current Coronavirus pandemic.  As you know, the world is facing an unprecedented health epidemic right now, and one that none of us have ever seen in...

With the 2021 Open Enrollment closed until next November, many have been left wondering which types of coverage can be purchased at any time during the calendar year.  For those new to the process of buying your own medical insurance—whether you recently left your job, started a business,...

When you consider the volume of information we absorb each day, the number of busy people who inadvertently miss the health insurance Open Enrollment deadline is not surprising. And of course, the question ultimately becomes, is there any way to buy health insurance after Open Enrollment?  We&r...

Countless Illinois businesses have already renewed their 2020 employee health insurance plan, and as many have discovered, group premiums are once again on the rise.  Some saw only modest increases and some remained flat, however, a concerning number have faced renewal premiums that increased s...

If you’re among the many who purchase their own health insurance—whether as an individual, a couple, or a family—the 2020 Open Enrollment period kicks off November 1st and will run until December 15th of 2019.  That said, if you need active health insurance benefits on the fir...

Renewing a group health plan is, as anyone charged with the task will surely agree, a complex and often frustrating process.  There are dozens and sometime hundreds of forms to fill out, various rates and coverage options to consider, and budgetary restraints which can make finding an affordabl...

Based on the group health renewal rates that we’re already seeing in Illinois, it’s clear that many companies who offer their employees health insurance are going to be facing premium increases that can range anywhere from subtle to substantially concerning.  This, of course, is nev...

For as long as people have been getting health insurance through their jobs, many find themselves questioning whether or not the plan, as selected by their employer, best meets their unique health and medical needs.  The process of choosing a group health plan can be nothing short of mentally e...