HB0283 - Consumer Health Insurance Counsel Act

• Creates an independent Office of Consumer Health Insurance Counsel to represent the interests of health insurance consumers in Illinois.

• Consumer Health Insurance Counsel appointed by Governor with Senate approval for 4-year terms and must be a licensed Illinois attorney with demonstrated commitment to consumer protection and insurance law experience.

• Counsel may assess the impact of insurance rates, rules, and forms on consumers and shall advocate positions determined to be most advantageous to a substantial number of insurance consumers.

• Counsel has authority to appear or intervene before the Director, Department of Insurance, or State health insurance rate review boards on behalf of consumers as a class in matters involving rates, rules, and forms for health insurance policies and managed care plans.

• Establishes prohibitions on conflicts of interest, lobbying activities, political involvement, and a one-year post-employment restriction on representing parties in matters the Counsel previously participated in.