House committee approves state-run insurance exchange
SPRINGFIELD - A proposal to establish a state-run health insurance marketplace is advancing in the Illinois House.
A House committee in a 9-6 vote Monday approved legislation creating a state-run website as the legislature begins its final week of the fall veto session.
Supporters of creating a state-run website say an impending end-of-year deadline to receive up to $300 million in federal funding plus a coming U.S. Supreme Court decision on tax credits spurred legislative action. Illinois residents currently purchase insurance on the national HealthCare.gov website.
The Illinois Senate approved an exchange last year. The measure faces some opposition in the House. But the bill's sponsor, Rep. Robyn Gabel, says she's working to gather support for the measure.
Gov. Pat Quinn supports the legislation.