Pritzker says he’ll use political capital to take on ‘predatory’ insurance companies

A doctor checks a patient's breathing at a doctor’s office — The Governor’s plan aims to make it easier to find doctors and to protect patients from “predatory insurance company” practices.

Reset with Sasha-Ann Simons

Gov. Pritzker’s budget takes on health insurance companies, proposes erasing medical debt

The governor proposes a multimillion-dollar increased investment in education across Illinois.

The Governor’s plan aims to make it easier to find doctors and to protect patients from “predatory insurance company” practices.

By Lynnea Domienik

In his sixth annual budget address, Gov. Pritzker said he planned to introduce a bill called the Healthcare Consumer Access and Protection Act, that would go after ghost networks, “step therapy” and insurance companies that deny coverage without prior authorization. The proposed budget also details a plan to erase $4 billion in medical debt over the next four years, and invest in Black maternal health by opening birth centers.

Reset learns more about what’s in the proposed 2025 budget to improve the health of Illinois residents.

GUEST: Kristen Schorsch, WBEZ public health and politics reporter