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High Risk Patients May be Stuck Paying High Rates
CHICAGO (AP) -- The federal health law won't offer relief to thousands of Illinois residents who pay high premiums because of medical problems.

The 16,000 residents who already pay into Illinois' high-risk insurance pool will keep paying high rates. Meanwhile, others who enroll this summer under a new program will get coverage at much lower prices.

That's because the federal law requires the new high-risk pools to charge no more than standard rates. But only those who've been uninsured six months are eligible, so those insured in the current program can't switch and save.

Illinois Department of Insurance Director Michael McRaith says state lawmakers would have to reduce premiums to make things more fair.

The state expects to get nearly $200 million to start the new high-risk pool. That's enough to cover an estimated 5,000 people.

On the Net: www.chip.state.il.us

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05 14 10 by Newsroom
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