HB5035 - Consumer Health Insurance Counsel Act

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

• Governor appoints the Consumer Health Insurance Counsel with Senate advice and consent for a 4-year term; appointee must be a licensed Illinois attorney with demonstrated commitment to public protection and insurance proceeding experience.

• Office 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.

• Consumer Health Insurance Counsel may appear or intervene as a matter of right before the Director, Department, or State health insurance rate review boards on matters involving rates, rules, and forms for accident and health insurance policies, managed care plans, and health maintenance organization plans.

• Establishes strict prohibitions on conflicts of interest, lobbying activities, political activities, and post-employment representation of parties involved in matters where the Counsel previously participated.