Unlike group insurance, here in Illinois when an individual or family applies for a health insurance policies they can be declined for pre-existing conditions. When it comes to Diabetes Type 1, this is an automatic decline. This is with all carriers that do individual plans, not just BCBSIL. I wish the insurance carriers did a better job of letting applicant now this up front. Too many times I see people go through an entire application, submit their payment and have to wait 3 weeks to find out they would be declined!! How frustrating!

Type 2 Diabetes has a little more flexibility. As long as some one is over 30 years of age and they were diagnosed over a year ago they maybe eligible as long as their type 2 diabetes is well controlled with diet and exercise only. An applicant must be able to have current labs available. Also there can’t be any high blood pressure, cardiac conditions or other related conditions.

I always recommend doing a pre-screen first before applying. The underwriters appreciate having a screened applications vs. one that will be an autodecline.

Besides having the flexibility to choose from one or up to 6 months of coverage, you also have the freedom to choose from one of the largest contracting hospital and physician networks in Illinois.  One of the strongest features of the plan is the out patient emergency care.  Most carriers will require you to pay your full deductible and a steep copay before they start paying anything, BCBSIL only require a $75 copay before coverage starts, deductible does not apply.

It has happened more often than not where one of our clients at www.infinityhealthinsurance.com ended up needed to use that emergency room coverage.  You never think its going to happen to you. By applying online you may be able to start your insurance coverage as soon as tomorrow.

Previously with a SelecTemp Plan you could not cancel your plan and get a refund for any of the unused months.  This changed as of June 1, 2009.  If you cancel your plan the date will be effective on the next monthly renewal date.  Your prepaid premium will refunded.  Now you do not have to worry about paying for coverage you do not need.

1) What is the effective date of changes mandated by Public Act 095-0958?

The changes need to be reflected in individual and group health insurance policies and HMO contracts as they are delivered, issued, amended or renewed on and after June 1, 2009. Policies in force prior to June 1, 2009, will have to reflect the changes on the first renewal date or date the policy is first amended after June 1, 2009.

2) Does the law require group and individual policies to provide dependent coverage?

No. The law only applies if dependent coverage is included in the policy.

3) Who must be covered under the law?

Policies that include dependent coverage must allow unmarried dependents under the age of 26 to apply for coverage. In addition, policies must allow military veteran dependents under age 30 to apply for coverage if the military veterans: 1) are Illinois residents; 2) are not married; 3) have served in the active or reserve components of the U.S. Armed Forces (which includes the National Guard); and 4) have received a release or discharge other than a dishonorable discharge.

To prove that they have served in the U.S. Armed Forces and received a release or discharge other than a dishonorable discharge, veterans must submit to insurers a DD2-14 (Member 4 or 6), otherwise known as a ýCertificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty.ý

A policy shall not condition eligibility for dependent coverage on enrollment in any educational institution.

4) Do covered dependents need to re-apply for coverage?

No. After June 1, 2009, dependents covered under a policy at the time of that policyýs delivery, issuance, amendment or renewal do not need to re-apply. After June 1, 2009, dependents not covered at the policyýs delivery, issuance, amendment or renewal may need to re-apply for coverage.

5) When will dependents be allowed to enroll?

a) Policies in force as of June 1, 2009 must provide for a 90-day open enrollment period for all dependents that meet the criteria established in (3) beginning on the date the policy is first amended or renewed. During the initial 90-day enrollment period, requirements for creditable coverage, continuous coverage or breaks in coverage may not be applied.

b) Policies issued on or after June 1, 2009 must provide for a 90-day open enrollment period for all dependents that meet the criteria established in (3). During the initial 90-day enrollment period, requirements for creditable coverage, continuous coverage or breaks in coverage may not beapplied.

c) The effective date of coverage for dependents added during the initial 90-day enrollment period shall be consistent with the enrollment terms of the plan or policy (e.g., the effective date of coverage is the first day of the month following enrollment).

d) After the initial 90-day open enrollment period, insurers must provide eligible dependents not already covered under the policy annual enrollment during an open enrollment period. For policies that do not currently provide for an open enrollment period, enrollment must be allowed for the 30- day period prior to the policyýs annual renewal date or anniversary date if the policy does not have a renewal date. During this annual enrollment period the insurer may decline coverage if the dependent does not meet the requirement of 90 days of continuous coverage without a break in coverage of more than 63 days.

e) This law does not change enrollment terms or requirements for dependents added outside of the initial 90-day enrollment or subsequent annual enrollment periods, including HIPAA special enrollment requirements. As such, an eligible dependent that meets the limiting age requirements of P.A. 095-0958 may be added to a group policy if a HIPAA special enrollment event occurs. An eligible dependent who meets a companyýs underwriting guidelines may be added to an individual policy at any time throughout the year.

6) Can the insurer decline coverage for eligible dependents due to health conditions?

During the initial 90-day enrollment, annual enrollment or special enrollment periods, no policy may decline coverage to an eligible dependent due to age (as defined in P.A. 095-0958), health status, or enrollment in an educational institution. The law does not otherwise restrict the definition of

dependent. However, the Division will take appropriate enforcement action if the Division finds that an insurer imposed any eligibility requirement as a proxy for age or student status(e.g., restricting coverage based on IRS dependency rules).

During the annual enrollment period, the insurer may decline coverage if the dependent does not meet the requirement of 90 days of continuous coverage without a break in coverage of more than 63 days.

7) Can the insurer impose preexisting condition limitations for the coverage of eligible dependents?

a) With respect to dependents added during the initial 90-day open enrollment period, rules governing preexisting condition limitations are not changed by P.A. 095-0958. For group policies, any such exclusion period must be reduced by the amount of creditable coverage a dependent has at the time of enrollment, consistent with HIPAA (215 ILCS 97/20 (A)(3)).

b) For dependents added during an annual enrollment period, preexisting condition limitations may be applied to the extent that creditable coverage has not been established. Group and individual policies must apply periods of creditable coverage, as defined in HIPAA, to any preexisting condition exclusion periods.

c) For dependents added to an individual policy at a time other than the initial 90-day enrollment or annual enrollment periods, preexisting condition limitations may be applied. However, insurers must apply creditable coverage to any preexisting condition exclusion period at the time of the policy’s next annual enrollment period.

d) Individual policies may not contain elimination or exclusionary riders with respect to coverage for eligible dependents.

8 ) Will companies be required to amend existing policies in order to comply with new enrollment and eligibility requirements?

Yes. Companies must amend an existing policy if the policy does not currently contain a provision for an annual enrollment period or if the definition of “dependent” does not conform with these new requirements. For example, an individual policy that is guaranteed renewable and contains no open enrollment provision and has no renewal date must be amended to establish an enrollment period for the 30-day period preceding the annual anniversary date. In addition, if the policy’s definition of dependent varies from the requirements established by this new law, that definition will need to beamended.

Any required amendments to in-force polices must be incorporated by way of a rider that must be filed with and approved by the Director.

After the effective date of the new law, policies will either need to be refiled or amended to accommodate these new requirements or must be issued with a rider in order to be in compliance.

9) Does the dependent coverage law apply to dental and vision plans?

Yes. Because the new law applies to all accident and health plans, the dependent coverage requirement applies to dental and vision plans.

Clearly, this is a new strain of influenza for which little natural immunity probably exists. Past experience has shown potential for new strains of influenza to spread extensively. On the other hand, there have been situations, such as the swine flu scare in 1976, which turned out to be false alarms. I think people should be concerned about the potential and stay informed.
Can I catch swine flu from eating pork?

No. Swine flu is spread like any other respiratory disease, via droplets from sneezes and coughs. You can breathe in these droplets or become infected by touching a contaminated surface and then touching your eyes or mouth.
If I got the flu shot last fall, am I safe from swine flu?

No. After looking at the components of last year’s flu vaccine, officials with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) concluded that you can’t expect any protection against swine flu from last year’s vaccine. It will probably take up to six months to develop a vaccine that will work against the swine flu viruses we’re seeing now.
Are there symptoms to watch out for?

Swine flu has the same potential symptoms as seasonal influenza or bird flu — fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. There’s really no way to know the specific influenza type except by testing. Your doctor can take a sample from your nose or throat with a cotton swab and send it to your state health department.
Should I receive treatment, just in case?

This variety of swine flu is sensitive to the antiviral drugs oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and zanamivir (Relenza) but the CDC has recommended that these drugs be used only for people who:

* Have confirmed, probable or suspected swine influenza, especially if they are at higher risk of complications
* Are household contacts who are at high risk for complications of influenza (such as persons with certain chronic medical conditions, persons 65 or older, children younger than 5 years old, and pregnant women) of a confirmed, probable or suspected case
* Are school children at high risk for complications of influenza (children with certain chronic medical conditions) who had close contact (face-to-face) with a confirmed, probable or suspected case
* Have recently traveled from or live in an area where cases of swine flu have been confirmed, if they are at high risk of complications
* Work in certain health care fields, particularly if they are at high risk of complications

What can I do to protect myself?

Wash your hands with soap and water frequently. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers may also be helpful. Government health officials will make announcements if further measures — such as closing schools or wearing surgical masks — should be taken.
Might this virus resurface in fall?

That has happened in the past. The 1918 influenza epidemic started with cases in the spring, seemingly disappeared over the summer, and then returned with a vengeance in the fall.

Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is a flavor enhancer commonly added to Chinese food, canned vegetables, soups and processed meats. Although the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has classified MSG as a food ingredient that is “generally recognized as safe,” the use of MSG remains controversial.

MSG has been used as a food additive for decades. Over the years, the FDA has received many anecdotal reports of adverse reactions to foods containing MSG. But subsequent research found no definitive evidence of a link between MSG and the symptoms that some people described after eating food containing MSG. As a result, MSG is still added to some foods.

A comprehensive review of all available scientific data on glutamate safety sponsored by the FDA in 1995 reaffirmed the safety of MSG when consumed at levels typically used in cooking and food manufacturing. The report found no evidence to suggest that MSG contributes to any long-term health problems, such as Alzheimer’s disease. But it did acknowledge that some people may have short-term reactions to MSG. These reactions — known as MSG symptom complex — may include:

• Headache, sometimes called MSG headache
• Flushing
• Sweating
• Sense of facial pressure or tightness
• Numbness, tingling or burning in or around the mouth
• Rapid, fluttering heartbeats (heart palpitations)
• Chest pain
• Shortness of breath
• Nausea
• Weakness

Symptoms are usually mild and don’t require treatment. However, some people report more severe reactions. The only way to prevent a reaction is to avoid foods containing MSG. When MSG is added to food, the FDA requires that “monosodium glutamate” be listed on the label — or on the menu, in restaurants.

It’s understandable that you’re confused. Eggs are high in cholesterol, and a diet high in cholesterol can contribute to elevated blood cholesterol levels. However, the extent to which dietary cholesterol raises blood cholesterol levels isn’t clear. Many scientists believe that saturated fats and trans fats have a greater impact than does dietary cholesterol in raising blood cholesterol.

Adding to the confusion, the American Heart Association recently acknowledged that as long as you limit dietary cholesterol from other sources, it may be possible to include a daily egg in a healthy diet — a statement that was heavily reported in the media.

Here are the facts: One large egg has about 213 milligrams (mg) of cholesterol — all of which is found in the yolk. If you are healthy, it’s recommended that you limit your dietary cholesterol intake to less than 300 mg a day. If you have cardiovascular disease, diabetes or high LDL (or “bad”) cholesterol, you should limit your dietary cholesterol intake to less than 200 mg a day. Therefore, if you eat an egg on a given day, it’s important to limit or avoid other sources of cholesterol for the rest of that day.

If you like eggs but don’t want the extra cholesterol, use egg whites. Egg whites contain no cholesterol. You may also use cholesterol-free egg substitutes, which are made with egg whites. If you want to reduce cholesterol in a recipe that calls for eggs, use two egg whites or 1/4 cup cholesterol-free egg substitute in place of one whole egg.