NORMAL—NIU employees basically do not have workman’s compensation benefits and will lose their health insurance March 1.

Both benefits are funded through the state. However, money set aside for workman’s compensation claims is gone, and money earmarked for health insurance will probably run out before March, NIU President John La Tourette told Board of Regents members Wednesday.

That means any requests filed will go unpaid until legislators put more money aside.

La Tourette said small claims will not pose problems for most state-employed families. However, extended illnesses or hospitalization will.

At NIU, more than $250,000 in workman’s compensation requests are in limbo, said La Tourette.

EQUICOR, a state-employed agency, handles heath claims not connected with workman’s compensation. These funds are expected to be gone before March, La Tourette said.

NIU officials’ hands are tied because the fund is distributed by the state, La Tourette said.

Legislators knew about the shortfall before the gubernatorial election and tried to put more money into the fund. However, the effort failed in the fall veto session.

Some Regents guessed the fund will come up again in Springfield after the Chicago mayoral election.

Until then, employees will have to wait. The state eventually will pay the bills, but not on time.

Even then, La Tourette said the state will probably not pay the added late fee.

The Regents govern NIU, Illinois State University in Normal and Sangamon State University in Springfield.