Illinois takes slow approach on health exchange

CHICAGO — Lawmakers in President Barack Obama's home state have opted for the slow approach to establishing an insurance marketplace that's key to the president's health overhaul.

The Illinois Legislature during its just-wrapped session formed a bipartisan committee to study how an insurance exchange should be set up.

A proposal for a more ambitious approach died without coming to a vote, along with another bill that would have given state regulators power to deny health insurance rate increases.

Consumer advocate Jim Duffett of the Campaign for Better Health Care says the successful bill was "written by the insurance industry," a charge denied by the bill's main Democratic sponsor.

Illinois joins a handful of states in passing legislation establishing exchanges where individuals and small businesses will shop online for insurance starting in 2014.