Illinois2026Active
HB0017
State Retiree Medicare Primacy Coordination Audit and Assistance Program
Last scannedAug 24, 2026, 10:00 AM
In one sentence
This law allows the Department of Central Management Services to create a program that helps state retirees find out if they are eligible for Medicare, enroll in it as their main insurance, and get help with Social Security Disability Insurance.
What it does
- Allows the Department of Central Management Services, along with five specific retirement systems, to hire an administrator within six months of January 1, 2026, to run a new program.
- Requires annual audits of state health plans to find people eligible for Medicare who are not yet enrolled.
- Ensures that retirees and dependents use Medicare as their primary insurance and the State Health Benefits Program as secondary coverage.
- Provides help to disabled individuals in enrolling for Social Security Disability Insurance and Medicare benefits, including creating educational materials and representing them on claims.
- Requires the program administrator to submit an annual report showing how many people enrolled and how much money the state saved.
Who it affects
- Retirees, annuitants, benefit recipients, survivors, and dependents covered by Illinois state health programs.
- The Department of Central Management Services and five specific state-funded retirement systems: State Employees' Retirement System, State Universities Retirement System, Teachers' Retirement System, Judges' Retirement System, and General Assembly Retirement System.
Limits and unknowns
- The law uses the word 'may' to enter a contract, meaning hiring an administrator is allowed but not strictly required.
- The text does not specify how much money will be spent on this program or where that funding comes from.
Plain language
Terms to know
- Primary coverage
- The main health insurance plan that pays for medical costs first before other plans pay anything.
- Secondary provider
- A backup health insurance plan that only pays for remaining costs after the primary plan has paid its share.
Official record
Sources
Official summary
CMS-RETIREE MEDICARE PROGRAM