Blue Cross cancellation sends Illinois consumers scrambling

The Chicago Tribune reports:

Rick Jago talks about his doctor at Northwestern University in emotional terms.

The 57-year-old Homer Glen resident credits Dr. Jyoti Patel with saving his life after he was diagnosed with lung cancer five years ago. He sees her every six months to make sure the cancer hasn't returned.

"I love this woman," said Jago. "The only woman I love more than her is my wife."

What he's not in love with is his health insurance. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois is canceling his PPO plan at the end of the year. The big insurer offered to transfer him to another health plan, but there's a problem. Patel is not in the network.

Blue Cross took its PPO plan off the Illinois health insurance marketplace created under President Barack Obama's signature health care law. This change does not affect people enrolled in a Blue Cross PPO plan through an employer or Medicare beneficiaries who buy supplemental insurance from the company.

Thanks ObamaCare!