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Illinois Bulletin State News

By: States: Illinois Source: AARP.org Date Posted:

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April 2008
Cost-conscious choices – State programs that can help older Illinoisans continue to live independently in their own homes and avoid more costly nursing home care received a boost in February, when Gov. Rod Blagojevich, D, released his 2009 budget proposal. As submitted to the legislature, the governor’s budget would increase funding for home- and community-based services such as Meals on Wheels and adult day care.

The governor’s budget also includes a provision that would encourage doctors to share health care records electronically, which could reduce duplicative testing, unnecessary prescriptions and medication errors.

AARP Illinois is urging lawmakers to include both items in the final budget, scheduled for a vote in May. For more information or to sign up for legislative updates, go to www.aarp.org/il.

March 2008
Relief work – Illinois utilities Ameren and ComEd have proposed a service fee hike that would stick consumers with hundreds of millions of dollars in new charges and wipe away most of the billion-dollar rate relief package AARP Illinois helped win last year.

As the two utility companies present their case before the Illinois Commerce Commission, AARP has entered the proceedings as a consumer advocate. When commission hearings across the state end in April or May, regulators will go into closed session to make a decision.

AARP Illinois encourages members to voice their opposition to service charge increases. Call the AARP advocacy hotline at 1-800-719-3020 or visit www.aarp.org/il.

January/February 2008
Mend the gap – AARP Illinois has teamed up with a coalition that aims to strengthen lifelong financial security for women and minorities, two groups that tend to be underprepared for retirement.

The coalition—which includes the U.S. Department of Labor Women's Bureau and a diverse group of state agencies, nonprofit organizations, and community leaders—supports automatic enrollment in 401(k) plans. With auto-enrollment, workers don’t have to sign up for 401(k)s; they are assumed to be participants unless they opt out.  

For more information, visit http://www.retirementmadesimpler.org call 1-866-448-3613 toll free.