SPRINGFIELD – Insurance companies will no longer be able to solicit nursing home residents under a new law championed by State Senator Doris Turner.

“Local nursing home residents had reached out saying they were being solicited to buy new insurance policies or change their current plans,” said Turner (D-Springfield). “We can’t let seniors be the target of deceptive practices by insurance companies.”

House Bill 1865 makes it illegal to solicit a resident of a nursing home or long-term care facility, or someone over the age of 65 to purchase accident and health insurance unless the insurance company waits 48 hours before making any insurance-related changes and the individual is given the ability to opt out.

Turner’s law also makes it illegal for a nursing home or long-term care facility to make substantive changes likely to be disruptive to a resident, or move a resident's place of living, without prior approval from a guardian if the resident suffers from dementia or a medical condition that reduces their capacity to make informed decisions.

“Putting these guardrails in place will protect seniors from being targeted,” said Turner. “This will stop the endless flood of spam trying to swindle our seniors for a service they already have.”

House Bill 1865 takes effect Jan. 1, 2026.