New Leader Named for "Get Covered Illinois"

Gov. Bruce Rauner's administration has named an insurance company executive to lead Get Covered Illinois, the state's health insurance marketplace. The Illinois Department of Insurance says Karen Woods will fill the post. Woods previously worked as executive director of Blue Cross Blue Shield's retail claim operation. She succeeds Karin Zosel who left in early August to return to MacMurray College in Jacksonville where she worked before the Republican appointed her. Get Covered Illinois is in its third annual enrollment period under President Barack Obama's health care law. Open enrollment ends Jan. 31. Last summer, Rauner made it a division of the state insurance department, which is headed by Anne Melissa Dowling, formerly of the Connecticut Insurance Department and a board member of Connecticut's state-based health insurance exchange.