An "Emanuel Glitch" in Chicago city worker health insurance leaves them without coverage for now but Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Wife And Kids not affected

Some city employees who have gone to doctors and pharmacists since the start of the New Year have been told they no longer have health insurance, a mistake in the automatic renewal process that City Hall officials said Wednesday would soon be corrected.

"The city's health care vendors reported a technical error to the city's benefits division last week and are working to correct the error," city spokeswoman Mary Kay Accurso said in a prepared statement, adding that it affected both HMO and PPO members. "These employee insurance plans remain active, and there should be no issues accessing coverage once the issue is resolved."

The problem became public when someone anonymously posted on a Chicago police blog about being turned away from a doctor's office and also being told by a pharmacy worker that his wife's $10 co-pay for generic heart medication would now cost him $590. Others weighed in with similar experiences, identifying Blue Cross-Blue Shield as the insurer.

A Blue Cross spokeswoman did not answer questions about how many employees were affected, how the mistake occurred or when the issue would be remedied. She suggested those with questions should call the phone number on their insurance card.

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