Jobs Slashed At Illinois' Obamacare Exchange
From Crain's Chicago Business
Get Covered Illinois, the state health insurance exchange formed under Obamacare, is cutting staff as it heads into its third year with less federal money than in previous years.
The staff was notified today that their positions will be eliminated as of July 31, according to a Get Covered Illinois employee, who asked not to be identified because he will work there until the end of the month. Only three people in leadership roles will remain, including executive director Karin Zosel, who came on board in March. The layoffs affect more than a dozen employees, as well as a few vacant positions.
Get Covered Illinois is funded by federal grants, not state dollars.
“Get Covered Illinois continues to operate its exchange as a State Partnership model,” Jose Munoz, chief marketing officer of Get Covered Illinois, said in a statement. “Entering year three, we will be operating with less federal funding than in previous years and have reduced our staffing levels. Get Covered Illinois remains committed to offering education and enrollment assistance to Illinois Consumers. Our call center continues to be available 6 days a week to assist with enrollment questions and to connect consumers with navigators, agents, brokers and other free enrollment specialists.”
State officials did not respond to questions about the size of its annual budget and staffing.
Zosel started two months after Republican Bruce Rauner took office after unseating Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn, who launched the exchange.
The layoffs come on the heels of a crucial U.S. Supreme Court decision in June. That decision allows consumers in states like Illinois, which don't directly sell insurance policies, to continue to route them to the federal exchange, HealthCare.gov. There, they can use federal subsidies to buy health plans, the point of contention in the lawsuit. Illinois is among 37 states that use the federal platform to allow residents to buy health insurance.
The Illinois exchange launched in 2013 as an online marketplace born out of federal health reform. The idea was to create a competitive marketplace where consumers and small businesses could shop for health insurance.
Read more in our daily News Update...
From Crain's Chicago Business
Get Covered Illinois, the state health insurance exchange formed under Obamacare, is cutting staff as it heads into its third year with less federal money than in previous years.
The staff was notified today that their positions will be eliminated as of July 31, according to a Get Covered Illinois employee, who asked not to be identified because he will work there until the end of the month. Only three people in leadership roles will remain, including executive director Karin Zosel, who came on board in March. The layoffs affect more than a dozen employees, as well as a few vacant positions.
Get Covered Illinois is funded by federal grants, not state dollars.
“Get Covered Illinois continues to operate its exchange as a State Partnership model,” Jose Munoz, chief marketing officer of Get Covered Illinois, said in a statement. “Entering year three, we will be operating with less federal funding than in previous years and have reduced our staffing levels. Get Covered Illinois remains committed to offering education and enrollment assistance to Illinois Consumers. Our call center continues to be available 6 days a week to assist with enrollment questions and to connect consumers with navigators, agents, brokers and other free enrollment specialists.”
State officials did not respond to questions about the size of its annual budget and staffing.
Zosel started two months after Republican Bruce Rauner took office after unseating Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn, who launched the exchange.
The layoffs come on the heels of a crucial U.S. Supreme Court decision in June. That decision allows consumers in states like Illinois, which don't directly sell insurance policies, to continue to route them to the federal exchange, HealthCare.gov. There, they can use federal subsidies to buy health plans, the point of contention in the lawsuit. Illinois is among 37 states that use the federal platform to allow residents to buy health insurance.
The Illinois exchange launched in 2013 as an online marketplace born out of federal health reform. The idea was to create a competitive marketplace where consumers and small businesses could shop for health insurance.
Read more in our daily News Update...