Illinois bill would mandate infant allergy coverage, with unclear cost impact

(The Center Square) – An Illinois proposal to require insurance coverage for infant allergy prevention is raising questions about potential costs, even as supporters argue it could reduce long-term health spending.

State Sen. Darby Hills is backing Illinois Senate Bill 4182, which would require most insurance plans to cover a six-month supply of egg and peanut allergen supplements for infants when prescribed by a health care provider.

Hills said the measure is designed to eliminate upfront costs for families and encourage early intervention, which some studies suggest can lower the risk of developing lifelong food allergies.

“Families should not have to choose between prevention and cost,” Hills said.

But the proposal comes without a clear estimate of how much the new mandate would cost insurers, or how those costs might ultimately affect premiums for consumers.

Hills framed the bill as a potential long-term cost saver, arguing that preventing al...