The State of Illinois has awarded Health Alliance Medical Plans a new long term contract to provide HMO coverage to tens of thousands of state workers. That includes many at Northern Illinois University.
A controversy began when the state announced only shortly before benefits selection period that Health Alliance would not be retained as an option, but did not offer a similar provider with a network of doctors in the central region of the state. Representative Dan Brady says he's pleased at this outcome.
That's something that many of my constituents have been very concerned over and I'm sure will be relieved to know that there has been a contract awarded and that it's going to be Health Alliance and so there will be some continuity and stability in the future.
The contract is for a minimum of three and a half years and could be extended annually for five more years after that.