PARITY: Having the same insurance coverage for brain disorders as other disorders.

Illinois' current insurance parity law (PA92-185) will expire on December 31, 2005 unless extended. We need to start now to repeal the sunset provision. The sunset provision is an end point for the law, meaning that if it is not dealt with, the law ceases and falls off the books, so to speak, and will sunset at the end of 2005.

What can you do to help? Contact Senator Emil Jones, Jr., President of the Senate, and urge him to sponsor HB 4104 which repeals the sunset clause of the parity bill. If HB 4104 is not passed, the parity bill will no longer exist AND if the parity bill no longer exists we will not be able to continue our fight to have insurance companies provide equal coverage for brain disorders and other physical disorders.

Committee Action:
HB 4104 is scheduled for a hearing on 3/2/04, but is expected to make little progress in the House.  Emil Jones is the President of the Senate, so please contact him and urge him to sponsor HB 4104 in the Senate to get around the snag in the House. NAMI fought hard to get this parity law and even though it is not perfect, we do not want it to end which it will do on 12/31/05 if the sunset clause is not eliminated. The insurance companies are lobbying hard to put an end to parity. We must not let this happen! Please write or call now.

Any questions, contact either Sandy Giger at 644-5705, skgiger@hotmail.com or Mary Gauen at 288-4376, katiegauen@aol.com