SPRINGFIELD – In a continued effort to expand access to health care while protecting affordability, State Senator Rachel Ventura and State Representative Hoan Huynh partnered together on House Bill 1577, which was signed into law on Friday .

The new law clarifies university participation in Illinois’ dependent coverage law, and ensures student health insurance plans remain affordable and sustainable for those who rely on them most.

“Expanding health care access must go hand in hand with protecting affordability,” said Ventura (D-Joliet). “This legislation supports the intent of the original law while making sure we don't unintentionally burden students with higher premiums. We’re committed to building a more inclusive health care system — one that meets people where they are, including our students.”

House Bill 1577 is a follow-up to a law that took effect in January 2025, which requires health insurance plans to offer dependent coverage to an insured person’s parent or stepparent. That landmark law was designed to help multigenerational households and caregivers access essential care, and only applied to parents or stepparents living with or receiving at least six months of care from the insured individual. Highly specialized insurance products, like Medicare supplement plans and hospital-only coverage, were excluded from these provisions.

House Bill 1577 explicitly exempts student health insurance plans from this requirement — a clarification that was always intended but needed to be codified.

House Bill 1577 was signed into law on Aug. 15, 2025 and goes into effect immediately.