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Home / Policy / Protecting Consumers from Junk Health Plans 

Protecting Consumers from Junk Health Plans 

Policy / March 12, 2024 by Diana Pando

Last month, Governor Pritzker announced his intention to ban short-term, limited duration health products in our State. This is a welcome move which EverThrive IL has been advocating for more than 5 years and we urge lawmakers to support this proposal.  

Short-term, limited-duration (STLD) health plans, also known as junk plans, are substandard products marketed by some insurance companies as an alternative to full-benefit insurance coverage. Deceptive marketing and loads of fine print are used to target individuals and families at a delicate time, often when they are facing a gap in insurance coverage, have suddenly lost their insurance, or are unaware of financial help available to make comprehensive health insurance more affordable through the health insurance exchange.  

Junk plans are notoriously skimpy on benefits. They are not required to cover essential health benefits or provide coverage for pre-existing conditions. There are no STLD products that cover pregnancy care or sexual and reproductive health care. Kathy Waligora, Deputy Director of External Affairs at EverThrive IL shared: “When we started looking into these products in 2016, we found plans that were marketing coverage for athletes; but the fine print indicated no claims would be paid for injuries or illness sustained while participating in, coaching, or observing sports.” “Whats worse,” she continues, “is that we found plans advertising that they covered hospital care, but in the fine print we learned that they would only cover that hospital care if you weren’t admitted on a weekend!” Short term health products are predatory and deceptive and provide no meaningful benefit for IL families, who have a good chance of finding affordable comprehensive insurance through the ACA marketplace. 

In 2019, the Illinois General Assembly took important steps to regulate short-term health plans, but they have continued to flourish, and harm consumers, in our State. However, STLD plans continue to trap consumers, leaving them vulnerable to high medical debt, especially during emergencies.  It is clear the only way to help people get connected to the high-quality, comprehensive health insurance that they deserve is by banning these plans entirely, following the lead of 12 states and DC.   

EverThrive Illinois believes everyone in our state should have access to affordable, high-quality health care coverage that is not determined or impacted by their race, ethnicity, class, identity, or immigration status. We will continue working with partners like Citizen Action Illinois, communities, and elected officials to ensure all Illinoisans are protected from predatory health plans.  

Consumers can contact their legislators to co-sponsor SB 2836 to ban Junk Health Plans completely, or you can learn more HERE.

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