(SPRINGFIELD) The Illinois Department of Insurance has announced that $19.6 million was returned to consumers this year from lost or unclaimed life insurance policies & annuities, all thanks to the Life Policy Locator service available to the public at no charge. Illinois is one of the few states that requires insurance companies to attempt to find the beneficiaries of deceased policyholders when life insurance or annuity proceeds remain unpaid. Reports indicate that millions of dollars in life insurance benefits remain unclaimed each year.
(SPRINGFIELD) Illinois taxpayers may be put on the hook to pay for a more than three-quarters of a billion dollar fiscal cliff for mass transit in the Chicago region. Regional Transportation Authority officials point to a combined $771 million budget shortfall in annual spending as the main problem and they warn if not dealt with soon, chances are the system’s more than one million daily riders could face cuts in both bus & rail service. While lawmakers tried to pass a bill back in May for statewide taxpayers to pay for the transit system in Chicago, it likely will be brought up again during the veto session next month.
(SPRINGFIELD) Illinois health officials recommend all adults get the COVID-19 vaccine this fall, which goes against recent guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. While the CDC currently recommends COVID-19 vaccination mostly for adults 65 and older, younger people could be eligible only after discussing risks and benefits with a healthcare provider. The Illinois Department of Public Health released the state’s fall guidance following a vote by the Illinois Immunization Advisory Committee, which includes 20 experts in fields ranging from pediatrics to infectious diseases.