Gov. Rod Blagojevich on Thursday signed a law that will protect service members and their families from losing health insurance after completing a tour of military service or receiving an honorable discharge.

The need for Senate Bill 916 was made clear by a recurring trend of service members being refused reinstatements of coverage by private insurance companies once they had returned from active duty.

"Illinois soldiers, sailors and Marines who are sent to protect our country deserve our support and help when they return. They certainly should not have to worry about losing their health insurance because they were called to active duty," Blagojevich said.

SB 916 calls for Illinois health insurance providers to reinstate pre-duty individual health-care coverage for any military member and his or her family once they have returned to private life and their government-sponsored health insurance policy expires, according to a press release

Retiring or deactivated service people must request reinstatement of previous insurance policies within just over two months of their deactivation date in order for the law to apply.

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