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Lake County to offer special enrollment after HMO split affecting employees, retirees
Summary
Human Resources told the Lake County Financial & Administrative Committee that a contractual breakup between HMO of Illinois and Advocate Medical Group will end that network relationship July 1, 2025; the county will run a special open-enrollment so affected employees and retirees can switch to the county's HMO Blue Advantage Plan.
Darcy Edcock, the Lake County human resources director, told the Financial and Administrative Committee on April 3 that a contractual split between HMO of Illinois and Advocate Medical Group will end their partnership effective July 1, 2025, and will affect a large portion of county employees and some retirees.
Edcock said the county will offer a special open-enrollment period for members currently in the HMO of Illinois plan so they may switch to the county’s alternative HMO Blue Advantage Plan, which she said has the same plan design and lower cost. “We will offer employees and retirees the opportunity, if you're enrolled in the HMO of Illinois currently, the opportunity to change over to the HMO Blue Advantage Plan,” Edcock said.
The change follows “contractual disagreements” between the medical group and HMO of Illinois, Edcock said; she and members clarified the effective date as July 1, 2025. She said the county is working with information technology and the insurer to finalize logistics for a midyear special enrollment that will take effect on that date. Edcock noted Blue Advantage remains under contract and will not be impacted by the split.
Committee members pressed for how many people would be affected. Edcock said about 650 employees, 18 retirees, and two people on COBRA are enrolled in the HMO of Illinois plan, and that the count does not include dependents. She added the county has received a “disruption report” from the insurer that maps which medical groups members use, but noted some employees’ dependents may be tied to different medical groups.
Member Maine asked whether the county notified all enrollees. Edcock replied the county sent a general notice to anyone in Illinois and opened the special enrollment because an employee’s spouse or dependent might be tied to Advocate Medical Group even if the employee is not.
County staff said more details will be provided as the special enrollment mechanics are finalized. Edcock invited questions and said staff will continue to communicate directly with impacted employees and retirees as the process is finalized.
