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Panel Approves Temporary Insurance Plan For State Employees

CHICAGO (CBS) -- State officials say a new temporary health insurance plan for state employees will increase options and decrease confusion.

As WBBM Newsradio 780's Dave Marsett reports, the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability voted to approve the plan unanimously at an emergency hearing.

The vote allows the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services the power to negotiate 90-day health insurance contracts that will start July 1.

LISTEN: Newsradio 780's Dave Marsett reports

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The state's health insurance plan is now being subjected to litigation that is working its way through the state's court system.

Officials say without the new contracts, thousands of state employees would have been forced to choose new health care providers which, in some cases, were far from their existing ones.

(TM and © Copyright 2011 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS Radio and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2011 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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