KFVS12 News & Weather Cape Girardeau, Carbondale, Poplar BluffIllinois State budget problems hit doctors' offices and patients
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(KFVS) - Some Illinois workers say the state's budget is on life support and the problem is spreading to doctor's offices here in the Heartland.
The State of Illinois is known to provide good insurance for its' employees.
However, that may no longer be the case.
The reason is a lack of cash.
As a result the state is delaying payments to its insurance providers, which for some is making visits to the doctor that more painful.
"I was shocked," Ashley Wright said.
Wright recently took her four-month-old son Noah to Dr. Paul Ploegman's office for a baby wellness check.
"I took him to get his shots expected to leave with his immunization done and I was turned away," Wright said.
Wright said she was told it's was due to her insurance company.
The mom of two works at SIUC.
Each month nearly $300 is deducted from her paycheck for her family's health insurance coverage.
"I am working and I am paying my bills. Where is my money going? It is goes to the state and then ideally it goes to the insurance company and then to the doctor," Wright said.
However, it appears that is not what is happening.
Dr. Ploegman said, in some cases, the state is eight to ten months behind in reimbursement payments.
"HealthLink is doing what it's supposed to be doing. It is getting accounts and bills sent to the right people. But the problem is anything that comes from the state," Dr. Ploegman said.
A sign is now posted in Dr. Ploegman's lobby stating he no longer provides immunizations for state employees with certain plans.
"That's our largest out of pocket right now. So we're a little reluctant to allow large bills to build up right now for patients, when we don't know when we're going to get reimbursed," Dr. Ploegman said.
Ploegman says he has refereed patients to health department for shots.
Ploegman adds while he does not like the situation, he has to keep the office doors open.
As for little Noah, he will get his shots at a different doctor's office.
However, Wright says she is not alone when it comes to problems with state health insurance.
"I know other people that are just not going to the doctor because their doctors are making them pay the full bill up front and get reimbursed when funds become available. But this is supposed to be taken care of before we ever get to the doctor," Wright added.
heartland News spoke with Mike Claffey, a spokesperson for the Illinois Department of Health Care and Family Services.
The agency oversees group insurance plans for state employees.
He said this is very much a concern to folks in his department and there is no doubt there are delays due to the state's financial problems.
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