For Immediate Release Contact:      

Alexandra Harkness

312.906.6143, aharknes@mchc.com

Daniel Yunker Appointed CEO of Land of Lincoln Health

Batavia resident to lead insurance non-profit created under national health care reform.

(Chicago) Jan.  29, 2013– The Land of Lincoln Health, Inc.  Board of Directors has appointed Daniel Yunker CEO of Land of Lincoln Health, a consumer operated and oriented plan that will offer high-quality, accessible health insurance in Illinois.  Yunker, 44, resides in Batavia.

Mr. Yunker will also continue to serve MCHC in his role as Senior Vice President, providing strategic executive oversight for MCHC’s MetroChicago Health Information Exchange, Business Resource Solutions, Human Capital Services and Employee Benefit Trust.

Mr. Yunker, who joined MCHC in 2005, has a track record for successfully recruiting members and market leaders to develop new ways to add value to the delivery of health care.  A thought-leader in health care finance, Yunker is a professor of finance with the University of Illinois at Chicago’s master of health care administration program, educating the next generation of health care leaders. He has also taken an active role in several other organizations including serving as the president-elect of the Healthcare Financial Management Association First Illinois Chapter, and as a board member for American Specialty Health Insurance Company.

On December 21, 2012, Land of Lincoln received approval and $160 million in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to form a consumer operated and oriented plan. Land of Lincoln plans to onboard a staff of 28 to launch the first and only federally approved consumer operated and oriented plan in Illinois.  Its next step is to apply for licensure as an insurer in Illinois and, once licensed, Land of Lincoln will offer all Illinoisans an insurance option designed to meet their health needs and family budgets, all in the communities in which they seek care. After the licensure process, individuals and businesses can purchase coverage through Land of Lincoln via the Illinois Health Benefits Exchange, which is expected to be operational by 2014.

Visit www.landoflincolnhealth.org for more information.

                                             ###

 Land of Lincoln Health, Inc. is committed to enhancing access to care in Illinois through quality, affordable health insurance.  Land of Lincoln Health was formed as a non-profit entity in the State of Illinois. Land of Lincoln Health intends to become a fully- licensed mutual insurance carrier in the State of Illinois and Operate as a Consumer Operated and Oriented Plan as identified in Section 1322 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.