Scored 5/10 on whether it helps or hurts everyday people.
The Balance Requests Bill
Insurers may charge up to $40 for balance requests
INS CD-OUTSTANDING BALANCE
Mixed: some good, some bad ·
If you ask your health insurer for a balance, they can charge up to $40 and must give you 7 days to agree on payment before sending debt to a collector
Our take
What we think, in plain words.
Consumers should watch this bill because it could add a new fee to simple balance requests, but it also forces insurers to give notice and a short negotiation window before turning debts over to collectors.
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The facts
What the bill actually says, no spin.
- Insurers may charge a fee up to $40 for a written balance request.
- Fee must be reasonably related to the work and can be charged once per year unless the balance changes.
- Insurers must send a written notice with a payment deadline before using a collection agency.
- Insured persons have 7 calendar days to agree to pay or ask for a different timeline.
- If no agreement is reached, the insurer may turn the account over to a collection agent.
In the news
Scanning the news for this bill…
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Sources
Read it yourself: the official bill and records.
This bill is in the Illinois Bill Book 2026
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