Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois announced today that BCBSIL individual policyholders will be allowed to keep their existing policies.

This announcement follows the Nov. 14 recommendations of President Obama that people may be able to keep the health plan they currently have for one more year. This change means they may not have to move to a plan that meets the new requirements of the Affordable Care Act coming on Jan. 1, 2014.

Existing policy holders that have already made a plan change to an new ACA policy will have the option of switching back to their old plan.

Members that wish to switch to a new policy must submit an online application no later than December 23, 2013 to receive a January 1, 2014 effective date.