Effective July 1, 2012, the pre-existing waiting period on new Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois (BCBSIL) individual policies can now be offset by prior individual coverage with another carrier, provided:

• Application is received on or after July 1, 2012
• The prior coverage was an individual policy (temporary or permanent)
• There was no more than a 63-day lapse in coverage between the cancellation date of the prior carrier’s individual or group policy and the signature date on the BCBSIL application for coverage
• A Certificate of Creditable Coverage is submitted with the BCBSIL application

Creditable coverage does not include:

• Accident only or disability income insurance
• Liability insurance or coverage issued as a supplement to liability insurance
• Worker’s Compensation
• Credit-only insurance
• Coverage for onsite medical clinics
• Dental or vision benefits
• Long-term care, nursing home care, home health care or community based care coverage
• Coverage for a specified disease or illness
• Hospital indemnity

To get quotes and apply for a BCBSIL individual policy, please visit the BCBSIL quoting webpage.