HEALTH CARE COST ESTIMATE ACT

Creates the Health Care Cost Estimate Act and amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that prior to an admission, procedure, or service and upon request by a patient or prospective patient, a health care provider shall, within 2 working days, disclose the allowed amount or charge of the admission, procedure, or service. Provides that if the health care provider is unable to quote a specific amount in advance, the health care provider shall disclose the estimated maximum allowed amount or charge for the proposed admission, procedure, or service. Requires every company that issues, delivers, amends, or renews any individual or group policy of accident and health insurance to establish a toll-free telephone number and Internet website that enables consumers to request and obtain from the company, in real time, the estimated or maximum allowed amount or charge for a proposed admission, procedure, or service and the estimated amount the insured will be responsible to pay for a proposed admission, procedure, or service that is a covered benefit, based on the information available to the company at the time the request is made. Provides that if a patient or prospective patient is covered by a health insurance policy, a health care provider who participates as a network provider under the patient's or prospective patient's health insurance policy shall, upon request of the patient or prospective patient, provide, based on the information available to the health care provider at the time of the request, sufficient information regarding the proposed admission, procedure or service for the patient or prospective patient to use the applicable toll-free telephone number and Internet website of the provider of the health insurance policy.