Illinois

SCI Policy Planning Grant

In 2005 the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) received a SCI Policy Planning Grant. This grant supported the development of a three-way partnership between DCEO, the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, and an insurance carrier. DCEO worked with the Chamber to develop a small business health insurance initiative. They also worked closely with health leaders to address the issue of rising health care costs and insurance premiums as a barrier to economic development in the state.

The partnership with the Chamber of Commerce aimed to create a sustainable, predictable, and lower cost health insurance alternative for small businesses. The DCEO, the state's lead economic development agency, worked with the Chamber to assess the small business insurance market and determine potential solutions for improving access to coverage.