The Council Covers It

Health insurance can sometimes feel like assembling IKEA furniture with no instructions and three leftover screws. In this episode of The Council Covers It , host Kate Morthland sits down with Morgan Winters, Director of Get Covered Illinois, to help consumers better understand what happens after enrolling in a Marketplace health plan. Whether you recently selected coverage through the Illinois Ma...

In this episode of The Council Covers It , we’re celebrating Life Insurance Awareness Month with a conversation designed to make life insurance simple, clear, and approachable. Host Kate Morthland sits down with Corbin McGhee from the Illinois Department of Insurance to break down what life insurance is, how to figure out how much coverage you need, and how to navigate your options as a consumer....

In this episode of The Council Covers It , we’re honored to welcome Senator Julie Morrison, Chairwoman of the Illinois Senate Insurance Committee and a powerhouse voice in public policy. From championing issues to navigating the complexities of insurance legislation, Senator Morrison brings clarity, compassion, and commitment to her role. Host Kate Morthland sits down with the Senator to explore:...

Join host Kate Morthland for a powerful conversation with Joseph Matty, President of The HAP Foundation, as they spotlight Missing Pieces—a program providing grief support, education, and resources to families coping with the loss of a child. We’ll explore how the HAP Foundation and Missing Pieces is helping communities and what’s ahead for the program across Illinois. 🔗 Connect with us: Visit ww...

Illinois is making a major shift in its health insurance marketplace by transitioning to a State-Based Exchange (SBE) —but what does that mean for you? In this episode of The Council Covers It , host Kate Morthland sits down with Director  Morgan Winters , the expert leading this transition, to break down everything you need to know. Morgan brings a wealth of experience in healthcare policy and ex...

In this episode, we explore the Katie School of Risk Management and Insurance's latest report on the economic impact of Illinois' insurance industry . Our expert guests break down some eye-opening insights: 💡 How does Illinois rank compared to other states in industry impact?  💡 Did you know $1 in every $13 of U.S. health premiums is written by an Illinois-based insurer?  💡 What contr...

Join us as we explore Artificial Intelligence, its rapid growth, ethical and societal impacts, and future applications across various industries. Dr. Winter highlights the importance of familiarizing oneself with AI and staying updated on its swift advancements. Embracing AI is inevitable.  Resistance if futile. For more insights, contact Dr. Winter at vwinter@unomaha.edu and watch his blog cast o...

🎙️ New Podcast Episode Alert! 🎙️ Join us in our latest episode as we tackle healthcare costs with Lou Sandoval, President and CEO of the Illinois Chamber. With expenses soaring, employers are navigating challenges in providing top-notch coverage while managing costs. Tune in as we delve deep into this critical issue with one of the industry's leading experts!  Illinois Chamber of Commerce (il...

In this episode, join Cindy Goff from the American Council of Life Insurers (ACLI) as she provides listeners with a comprehensive overview of excepted benefits. Cindy and Kate delve into the intricacies of these products, exploring how they are offered and the advantages they offer to employees, employers, and unions alike. Have questions? Email Cindy at cingygoff@acli.com Check our ACLI at www.ac...

Listen in as the Council discusses the incredible impact of the insurance industry in Illinois with Jim Jones, Executive Director of the Katie School of Insurance and Risk Management at Illinois State University, and Dr. Tice Sirmans, faculty member in the Finance, Insurance, and Law Department as an Assistant Professor of Risk Management and Insurance (RMI) in the College of Business at Illinois...

Join the Council as we dive into the critical components of health equity with America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP's) Senior Vice President and Chief Health Equity Officer, LaShawn McIver, MD, MHP. Have questions?   Check the link below! AHIP Homepage - AHIP

New Episode Alert! Sarah Montgomery, Vice President for Paid Family and Medical Leave Implementation at ACLI, explains how the insurance industry provides cost savings, equity, and flexibility to states looking at implementing paid family leave programs. Have questions? Contact Sarah at sarah.montgomery@acli.com.  

Join Kate with the Illinois Life and Health Insurance Council as she discusses the negative impacts of establishing a Dental Loss Ratio with Cindy Goff, expert and Vice President of Supplemental Benefits and Group Insurance at the American Council of Life Insurers (ACLI).  Cindy explains the complexities of different insurance products and the detrimental effects a loss ratio mandate would have on...

Join the Council as Kate interviews Samantha Olds-Frey, Executive Director, and Chief Executive Officer at the Illinois Association of Medicaid Health Plans (IAMHP).  Sam discusses the federal government’s redetermination pause during the public health emergency and the effects, hurdles, and opportunities that come with starting redeterminations once more this Spring.  Sam also discusses the innov...

Join the Council as Kate interviews Brandon Arnold, Director of the Colorado Association of Health Plans and Marc Reece, CVS Health Policy Expert, on moving toward a State-Based Exchange!  Marc and Brandon walk through how the implementation process worked in Colorado as well as the importance of continued stakeholder and state involvement to ensure a smooth and positive transition for issuers and...

Listen in as the Council interviews Laura Pellikan, Executive Director of Get Covered, a division of the Illinois Department of Insurance. Pellikan’s team works to build awareness about quality, affordable health insurance coverage provided under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and encourage Illinoisans to purchase plans from the ACA Health Insurance Marketplace. Laura explains open enrollment and p...

Listen in as the Council interviews Skip Braziel, Vice President of Government Affairs, Central Region, for Prudential Financial.  Skip explains Disability Income Insurance, the importance of obtaining the product, the nuances between the different types of policies, and how affordability and policy direction create accessibility for consumers in Illinois.  You don’t want to miss it!   Want to exp...

Join ILHIC as we interview Chris Allen, Financial Advisor for Northwestern Mutual, on the importance of financial planning and how life insurance products may be used to secure the future for both you and your family.     Chris Brayfield Allen - Springfield, IL 62704 | Northwestern Mutual Have questions for Chris?  Email him here-- chris.b.allen@nm.com

Join ILHIC as we talk about the importance of “White Bagging.”  Americans have little to no knowledge of drug manufacturing, purchasing, and delivery of prescription drugs.  The drug purchasing chain has sparked interest with many policymakers looking to drive down the cost of drugs.  However, when crafting said policy changes, it’s critical to understand each of the entities and their roles.  Wit...

Around 1.2 million small businesses operate in Illinois, which account for 99.6% of the total business in the State. Setting up a small business is a vision of the American Dream, but with that dream comes many challenges and obstacles.  Listen in as ILHIC interviews the Illinois State Director of the National Federation of Independent Business, Chris Davis, on the importance of affordable healthc...

Poor mental health of one individual can spin a web that affects families, children, the workplace, physical health, communities, and much more.  The warning of a mental health public health emergency was not lost on Illinois’ Governor, who established the position titled “Chief Behavioral Health Officer."  The mission of this new role is to work with other subject matter experts to transform...

Listen in as ILHIC interviews State Representative West of the 67th District!  Representative West shares how his background shaped his role in transforming mental health in Illinois as well as the holistic view lawmakers and stakeholders should assess when creating mental health policy.  Additionally, Representative West discusses the State’s successes in Mental Health Access as well as what stil...

Listen to the latest “The Council Covers It” as ILHIC interviews the Illinois Department of Insurance’s Director, Dana Popish- Severinghaus.  The Director discusses the Department’s role and mission and explains how Industry and the Department can work together.  Director Popish-Severinghaus also shares some fantastic advice for women in leadership.  You don’t want to miss this episode! The Illino...

“There is incredible power in like-minded individuals acting together.”   Join Kate with the Illinois Life and Health Insurance Council as she interviews Evan Manning, Director of Government Relations at the Independent Insurance Agents of Illinois.  Evan discusses policy issues affecting his membership as well as the value of associations and the legislative work that they do.     Are you interes...

Want to learn about the only entity in the drug delivery chain dedicated to negotiating and driving down the cost of your drugs?  Listen in as Melodie Shrader, Vice President of State Affairs at the Pharmaceutical Care Management Association, as she explains the fundamental roles of Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs), as well as their positive impact on the businesses, families, and individuals they...