Supporting Health Alliance
Updated: April 15, 2011
DANVILLE - On a sunny afternoon you can find Jim and Megan Collins sitting in their backyard playing with their two children. Six-year-old Alexis and Noah are twins, and their parents consider them to be miracles.
"I don't think I would have my two kids if I hadn't had that insurance because we wouldn't have been able to pay for it out of our own pocket," explained Megan who works at the Danville Area Community College.
After three years of trying, and four rounds of In Vetro Fertilization, the couple finally had their two kids in 2005 at Carle in Urbana. But the battle wasn't over, they were born two months early and only weighed about two pounds. At one point Alexis died, and the Collins had a price tag of $300 dollars.
The Collins credit their health insurance, for taking care of most of the bills, but are now worried they'll lose that same insurance.
"The state needs to save money, however not at a health care cost because it's too important to working families," explained Megan's husband Jim Collins.
Last week the state announced it was dropping Health Alliance Medical Plan after a longtime contract. About a 100 thousand state employees would have to switch from HMO company to Blue Cross Blue Shield.
The Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS), which is in charge of state worker health plans, announced it will save $1 billion dollars in the next ten years with new Insurance contracts. It said In the next budget year, $120 Million would be saved.
"Part of me is worried, but I'm confident that they'll work it out," explained Jim. "But, there's always that little if, if they don't."
Jim has worked as a prison guard at the Danville Correctional Center for 18 years. As a state employee he receives Health Alliance for insurance.
Collins said in his 18 years, he's seen this happen before and has seen the company bounce back. He said he believes it's all politics.
On Tuesday both Health Alliance and Humana, who was also dropped as an HMO provider, protested against the new contracts.
They sent their formal protests to the states Executive Ethics Commission, but it's not sure if the decision and review will be finished before the annual benefits choice May 1.
"I don't want anyone else but Health Alliance, I think the main reason is because of my kids," explained Jim.
"I don't think I would have my two kids if I hadn't had that insurance because we wouldn't have been able to pay for it out of our own pocket," explained Megan who works at the Danville Area Community College.
After three years of trying, and four rounds of In Vetro Fertilization, the couple finally had their two kids in 2005 at Carle in Urbana. But the battle wasn't over, they were born two months early and only weighed about two pounds. At one point Alexis died, and the Collins had a price tag of $300 dollars.
The Collins credit their health insurance, for taking care of most of the bills, but are now worried they'll lose that same insurance.
"The state needs to save money, however not at a health care cost because it's too important to working families," explained Megan's husband Jim Collins.
Last week the state announced it was dropping Health Alliance Medical Plan after a longtime contract. About a 100 thousand state employees would have to switch from HMO company to Blue Cross Blue Shield.
The Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS), which is in charge of state worker health plans, announced it will save $1 billion dollars in the next ten years with new Insurance contracts. It said In the next budget year, $120 Million would be saved.
"Part of me is worried, but I'm confident that they'll work it out," explained Jim. "But, there's always that little if, if they don't."
Jim has worked as a prison guard at the Danville Correctional Center for 18 years. As a state employee he receives Health Alliance for insurance.
Collins said in his 18 years, he's seen this happen before and has seen the company bounce back. He said he believes it's all politics.
On Tuesday both Health Alliance and Humana, who was also dropped as an HMO provider, protested against the new contracts.
They sent their formal protests to the states Executive Ethics Commission, but it's not sure if the decision and review will be finished before the annual benefits choice May 1.
"I don't want anyone else but Health Alliance, I think the main reason is because of my kids," explained Jim.
