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Bill Would Allow Dentists To Void State Workers' Dental Plans

Andrew Horne
/
Wikimedia Commons

Illinois dentists want the option to void state workers’ dental plans. New legislation aims to do just that. If dentists could opt out of state worker insurance, those patients would have to pay for all dental work out of pocket — and wait themselves for the state to pay them back.

Dr. Elizabeth Knoedler is a dentist in Springfield. She says if it’s allowed, most state workers won’t be able make regular visits anymore.

“Not everybody has that kind of money laying around to be able to do that. That’s why they’re still paying for their dental insurance," she said.

Dentists are part of the long list of businesses, health care providers, and nonprofits that are waiting to be paid for work done as far as back as 2015.

If Illinois continues to operate without a full budget, the pile of unpaid bills is projected to reach $14 billion by summer.​

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