State Alerts

 
Legislative SummaryJuly 2004

NAMI-Madison County Legislative Update July 19, 2004

PARITY: Having the same insurance coverage for brain disorders as other disorders.
 Let your voices be heard!!!!
 Please call Senate President Emil Jones, (217) 782-2728, today and ask him to please stand tough, letting him know that we do not want to set mental health back.

 

As we feared, House Bill 5925, effectively repealing mental health insurance parity, is still in play and will be voted on by the full senate tomorrow (July 20th).  Please communicate your concerns about House Bill 5925 to Senate President Emil Jones ASAP

House Bill 5925, an anti-parity bill, passed its 3rd reading in the House on 3/30/2004 and arrived in the Senate on 3/31/2004. see Committee Action below


The short title of House Bill 5925 is cited as the Illinois Consumer Choice of Benefits Health Insurance Plan Act.  House Bill 5925 would permit health insurance to be sold without coverage for mental illnesses. If passed, House Bill 5925 will repeal the modest step towards equal treatment that was gained with the passage of Illinois’ Mental Health Insurance Parity Law, Public Act 92-185. 

This bill as it currently stands, does not offer and provide state-mandated health benefits, including provisions related to coverage for mental health services and mental illness rehabilitation services. This Consumer Choice of Benefits Health Insurance Plan may provide a more affordable health insurance policy, however, at the same time, it may provide you with fewer health insurance benefits.
If this bill passes, it would mean that small businesses would no longer have to provide mental health coverage as part of their benefit package. It is a step backwards for mental health.

Urgent - there is still time to stop this bill!! Don't let our hard work, over the past several years, go down the drain.

What can you do to help? Contact Senator Emil Jones, Jr., President of the Senate, and communicate your opposition to House Bill 5925.  We need to focus on Senate President Emil Jones, who is the only one with any say on this bill at this time. There is no need to contact other Senators.

Please help by writing or calling Senator Emil Jones.
14th District
President of the Senate		 Senator Emil Jones, Jr.
327 Capitol Building
Springfield, IL 62706
(217) 782-2728		  

Fax: 217/782-3242
 Sample Letter: ADVOCACY Letter HB5925

 


Committee Action:
 House Bill 5925 was originally introduced by Rep. Frank J. Mautino as the Illinois Consumer Choice of Benefits Health Insurance Plan Act on 2/6/2004. House Amendment No. 1 was filed by the Insurance Committee on 3/3/2004. HB 5925 passed its 3rd reading in the House on 3/30/2004 with 82 yeas, 30 nays, 3 present.  House Bill 5925 arrived in the Senate, had its First Senate Reading and was referred to the Rules Committee on 3/31/2004.  Senate Second Reading on 7/1/2004. Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading on July 2, 2004.  While we oppose House Bill 5925, NAMI Illinois would support the bill if it were amended to insure that it does not repeal mental health insurance parity.  
 


You can check this bill’s wording and status on the Illinois General Assembly web site: http://www.legis.state.il.us\

Any questions, contact either Sandy Giger at 644-5705, skgiger@hotmail.com or Mary Gauen at 288-4376, katiegauen@aol.com
Find Your Legislator: Click Here

Back To Advocacy
Date Modified: Saturday December 31, 2005