Governor Pat Quinn's office announced early this morning that he has signed a measure that will require retired state and public university employees to kick in more money for their health insurance.
That will officially do away with the current method of allowing those who retire with at least 20 years of service to get free health coverage. Those who retire with less time worked get a portion of insurance costs paid for.
This law will allow the Quinn Administration to set up a new system... which will determine health insurance rates based on length of service and pension income. The legislation was passed in the spring as a cost savings move for state government.
Quinn's office estimates as many as 90 percent of retirees currently pay nothing toward health insurance. The Governor has stated the costs were too much for the state to bear and called this is a way to preserve the system for retirees.
Groups representing public sector employees have argued the government is going back on a promise made to those who have served Illinois.
The law will take effect July first... but the new rate system will be part of labor negotiations and no details have been released at this time.