<?xml version="1.0" encoding="windows-1252"?><rss version="2.0"><channel><title>Illinois IGNN: Affordable Drugs News</title><link>http://www.illinois.gov/news/</link><description>The Illinois Government News Network (IGNN) section is your online source for news from the State of Illinois. Choose from the IGNN Links on the right to locate press releases in the categories that are of interest to you, or use the search the news feature to locate specific press releases or a different topic of releases. For other media, access the Illinois Information Service (IIS) Radio page for digital radio feeds and news soundbites.</description><language>en-us</language><copyright>Copyright &#169; 2012 State of Illinois</copyright><pubDate>Tue, 01 Dec 2009 00:00:00 CST</pubDate><ttl>2</ttl><webMaster>cms.rss@illinois.gov</webMaster><lastBuildDate>Fri, 10 Feb 2012 18:32:00 CST</lastBuildDate><image>  <title>IGNN</title>  <link>http://www.illinois.gov/news/</link>  <url>http://www.illinois.gov/PressReleases/images/IGNN133x45.jpg</url>  <width>133</width>  <height>45</height>   </image><!-- Note: You can get the HTML version by replacing .xml to .htm --><item><title><![CDATA[State Reminding Residents of Medicare Open-Enrollment Period Ending Dec 7 - Senior Health Insurance (SHIP) Counselors Available to Assist Seniors, People with Disabilities with Prescription Drug and Medicare Advantage Options, Enrollment Process]]></title><link>http://www.illinois.gov/PressReleases/ShowPressRelease.cfm?SubjectID=32&#x26;RecNum=9889</link><description><![CDATA[SPRINGFIELD– The Illinois Department of Insurance is reminding seniors, people with disabilities and caregivers that the open-enrollment period to review and change Medicare insurance benefits will end on Wednesday, December 7th.  The Department’s Senior Health Insurance Program (SHIP) volunteers are available to provide free information about health insurance benefits available through Medicare and guide eligible residents toward obtaining coverage that best meets the individual’s needs.]]></description><pubDate>Fri, 02 Dec 2011 00:00:00 CST</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">E1F979EA2B94F4A754835EE9F85CF0D0</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Governor Quinn Signs Legislation to Increase Affordability of Cancer Treatments - New Law Requires Equal Insurance Coverage for Oral Chemotherapy]]></title><link>http://www.illinois.gov/PressReleases/ShowPressRelease.cfm?SubjectID=32&#x26;RecNum=9578</link><description><![CDATA[CHICAGO – July 27, 2011. Governor Pat Quinn today signed legislation to ensure health insurance benefit equality between oral and injectable cancer drugs, allowing cancer patients more affordable treatment options and protecting them from significantly high out-of-pocket costs. House Bill 1825 requires private health insurance plans that provide coverage for oral and intravenous chemotherapy to cover both at the same benefit level.]]></description><pubDate>Wed, 27 Jul 2011 00:00:00 CST</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">EFD5A10C877AF6115FA4226391671750</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Illinois Health Care Reform Implementation Panel Releases Initial Recommendations - Health Benefits Exchange, Control of Rate Increases, and Higher Percentages of Premiums Going to Health Care Among Recommendations]]></title><link>http://www.illinois.gov/PressReleases/ShowPressRelease.cfm?SubjectID=32&#x26;RecNum=9252</link><description><![CDATA[CHICAGO – March 2, 2011. A state panel convened by Governor Pat Quinn to guide Illinois’ implementation of national health care reform released its initial recommendations today. The Health Care Reform Implementation Council urged the creation of a health benefit exchange -- called for in the federal Affordable Care Act (ACA) -- through which individuals and small businesses would be able to purchase health coverage at competitive prices. The panel also recommended that state regulators be given the authority to approve or deny health insurance rate increases, and that insurance companies be required to spend at least 80 percent of premium dollars on health care for policy holders.]]></description><pubDate>Wed, 02 Mar 2011 00:00:00 CST</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">613690CD913C7E69998DD12DF14A96FA</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Dept on Aging urges Seniors and People with Disabilities to Apply Online for Circuit Breaker & IL Cares Rx Beginning January 13 - A new state law raised income eligibility, so more people qualify for benefits; Apply online at www.cbrx.il.gov for faster processing, or call Circuit Breaker at 1-800-624-2459 for more information]]></title><link>http://www.illinois.gov/PressReleases/ShowPressRelease.cfm?SubjectID=32&#x26;RecNum=8166</link><description><![CDATA[SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department on Aging (IDoA) Director Charles D. Johnson announced this year’s online application is available starting January 13 for older adults and people with disabilities to apply for Circuit Breaker and Illinois Cares Rx.  A new state law that became effective on January 1 raised the annual income limits – making it possible for more people to qualify for the state benefits.]]></description><pubDate>Tue, 12 Jan 2010 00:00:00 CST</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">1FC5309CCC651BF6B5D22470F67561EA</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Seniors Reminded To Apply NOW Online for Illinois Cares RxTo Avoid a Break in Coverage - For more information on Illinois Cares Rx, call the Senior HelpLine at 1-800-252-8966 or visit www.cbrx.il.gov]]></title><link>http://www.illinois.gov/PressReleases/ShowPressRelease.cfm?SubjectID=32&#x26;RecNum=8073</link><description><![CDATA[SPRINGFIELD – Illinois Department on Aging Director Charles D. Johnson is reminding Illinois seniors to sign up now for Illinois Cares Rx to avoid a break in coverage and to ensure coverage begins on January 1.  Seniors and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply online because it is the fastest way to get approved.  Illinois Cares Rx is the state’s prescription drug assistance program that provides wrap-around prescription drug coverage to fill in the gaps created by Medicare Part D.  Processing for the online application takes about four weeks and those who apply now would avoid a break in coverage and ensure coverage begins on January 1.]]></description><pubDate>Tue, 01 Dec 2009 00:00:00 CST</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">FFA9B486AD206C638C657B7ED335635C</guid></item></channel></rss>
