The Illinois State Bar Association is asking its members to hand over detailed employee and dependent data to KeyRisk Underwriters so the bar can begin negotiating a group health insurance offering for member law firms, a move announced on November 4, 2026 after rising premiums pushed the organization past an initial member survey into active data collection.
ISBA.org reported that the association has contracted with KeyRisk Underwriters, an insurance underwriting firm, to assist with the project, and that members should complete the ISBA Group Health Insurance Quote Form and upload it directly to KeyRisk’s secure document portal rather than sending it to the ISBA itself. The form gathers basic information about each firm’s employees and covered dependents under the firm’s current health insurance plan.
Why ISBA Is Collecting Census Data Before Talking to Carriers
KeyRisk Underwriters and the ISBA will use the aggregate data collected from member firms to begin discussions with health insurance carriers about coverage plans for ISBA members’ firms.
After a successful response to its initial member survey, the ISBA moved to this next phase, and the volume of submitted forms will directly determine the strength of the data set used in carrier discussions.
What ISBA Members Should Take From This
- Forms go to KeyRisk Underwriters’ secure portal, not to the ISBA — misdirected submissions stall the project.
- Firms with more covered lives than one form holds must download additional forms and upload them together.
- The project remains in early stages; no carrier negotiations have begun and no coverage plan exists yet.
The Practical Mechanics of the Submission Process
Members are expected to forward the digital form to the staff member at their firm who handles health insurance or human resources, since that person holds the census information required. The secure upload link is embedded on the digital form itself, and firms needing more than one form should simply continue listing employees and dependents on a second form and upload all forms together.
Marybeth Stanziola posted the announcement on November 4, 2026, and the ISBA has been explicit that this is a data-gathering step, not a commitment to any plan. The aggregate data will be used by KeyRisk Underwriters and the ISBA to begin discussions with health insurance carriers about coverage options for member firms.
What the Balance Sheet Tells a Different Story
The announcement contains no figures on projected premiums, no carrier names, and no timeline for when quotes would reach member firms. What is known is only the process: collect data first, negotiate second.
| Step | Detail | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
| Form completion | ISBA Group Health Insurance Quote Form listing employees and covered dependents | Firm’s HR or health insurance staff |
| Submission | Secure document portal linked on the form; not sent to the ISBA | KeyRisk Underwriters |
| Oversized firms | Download additional forms, list remaining covered lives, upload all forms together | Member firm |
| Next phase | Aggregate data used to open discussions with health insurance carriers | KeyRisk Underwriters and ISBA |
What Remains Unknown as of November 4, 2026
Say plainly what is not known: no premium estimates, no carrier participation, no effective date, and no guarantee that a group plan will materialize. The ISBA itself cautions that the project is in early stages with much work yet to be done. For member firms, the immediate decision is narrow — whether to route the form to their benefits administrator and submit accurate census data, which is the only input that moves the project forward.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice.
