SPRINGFIELD, IL -- (Marketwire) -- 04/03/09 -- With an upcoming State House vote expected on the Health Insurance Consumer Protection Act (House Bill 3923), legislation establishing key reforms on health insurance in Illinois, AARP released the following letter to State Legislators today alerting them that the Association will record roll call votes on the bill, and inform its 1.8 million members in Illinois how their legislator voted.

According to exit polls, roughly 1 out of every 4 voters in the past election was a member of AARP. Nearly 100% of AARP members are registered to vote, while over 70% vote in every local, state and federal election.

"Illinoisans need and deserve to know where their State Senators and Representatives stand on the issues, and AARP will ensure they have that information on issues such as health insurance reform," said Robert Gallo, AARP Illinois Senior State Director.

With record numbers of people losing their employer-based health insurance and now purchasing coverage in the private insurance market, the Health Insurance Consumer Protection Act, introduced by Representative Greg Harris, will establish several critical consumer protections. The Senate's vote on the legislation will also be tracked and reported as it happens.

The legislation will:

--  Require insurance companies to spend at least 75% of premium dollars
    on medical care rather than on executives' salaries, marketing, and
    profits.
--  Establish an Office of Consumer Health Insurance to conduct external
    independent reviews of denied claims and rate increases.
--  Simplify the complicated application process for both individual and
    small group markets by creating a standard application, making it easier
    for them to get coverage.
    

AARP is urging all legislators to pass the measure; getting the bill signed into law is a top priority for the Association.

Following are excerpts from the letter sent by Gallo to State Legislators:

"AARP members are looking to us to keep them informed about what issues are dominating the policy debates in Illinois and where their elected officials stand on these issues.

"Our members care deeply about fixing our broken health care system; including addressing the unfair and inconsistent practices in the private health insurance market. They want to know both how AARP is representing their concerns and how the Illinois State Legislature is responding to our efforts.

"We believe that people make the right choices when they understand the issues and the positions taken by their elected officials. People need and deserve to know where their Representatives and Senators stand on the issues that matter most.

"Therefore, AARP will be recording House and Senate roll call votes on key issues, and informing our Illinois members of the results of these key votes -- and how their elected officials voted.

"AARP will track and report the upcoming House vote on House Bill 3923, the Health Insurance Consumer Protection Act, introduced by Representative Greg Harris. With record numbers of people losing their employer-based health insurance and now purchasing coverage in the private insurance market, the legislation will establish several critical consumer protections.

"The legislation will require insurance companies to spend at least 75% of premium dollars on medical care; establish the Office of Consumer Health Insurance to conduct external independent reviews of denied claims and rate increases; and simplify the application process for both individual and small group markets by creating a standard application.

"AARP strongly urges you to vote in favor of this legislation."

The entire letter can be found at: www.aarp.org/community/AARPIL/journals/