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Illinois Health Insurance Consumer Guide
Illinois runs a partnership exchange with the federal government. The state operates Get Covered Illinois, which has a website, in-person help, and a help desk.1 However, Illinois residents enroll in Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace health plans through HealthCare.gov. Starting in 2026, Illinois will have its own state-run enrollment platform.
Use this guide to help you understand the Illinois Marketplace and choose the right health plan for you and your family. ACA Marketplace plans – or Obamacare or exchange – are affordable choices for many people. Enrolling on the exchange may make you eligible for financial assistance through an advance premium tax credit.
Explore our other comprehensive guides to coverage in Alaska
Dental coverage in Illinois
In 2023, ten insurers offer stand-alone individual/family dental coverage through the health insurance marketplace in Illinois.2 Learn about other dental coverage options in the state.
Medicaid in Illinois
Illinois expanded Medicaid eligibility under the ACA in 2014.3 By April 2023, the number of people enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP in Illinois was over 3.8 million.4
Medicare coverage options and enrollment in Illinois
As of April 2023, over 2.3 million people in Illinois have Medicare coverage.5 If you’re curious about signing up for Medicare in Illinois or want to know about the state’s Medigap rules, our guide has you covered.
Short-term coverage in Illinois
In 2018, Illinois passed a law that restricts short-term health plans to six months and bans any renewals. As of 2023, there were at least nine insurers offering short-term health insurance policies in the state:6
Frequently asked questions about health insurance in Illinois
Who can buy Marketplace health insurance?
You can buy a health plan through the exchange if:7
- You reside in the United States.
- You are a U.S. citizen or national.
- You are not incarcerated.
- You are not already covered by health insurance from a job, Medicare, Medicaid, Children’s Insurance Program (CHIP), or another approved health coverage provider.
Qualification for financial assistance, such as premium subsidies and cost-sharing reductions (CSR), depends on your income and how it compares with the cost of the second-lowest-cost Silver plan in your area. This can vary based on where you live and your age. Moreover, to be eligible for financial aid for your Marketplace plan, you must:
- Not have affordable health coverage available through your job. If your workplace provides insurance, but you find it too expensive, you can use our Employer Health Plan Affordability Calculator to see if you might be eligible for premium subsidies on the Marketplace.
- Not qualify for Medicaid or CHIP.
When can I enroll in an ACA-compliant plan in Illinois?
In Illinois, open enrollment for ACA Marketplace individual and family health coverage is from November 1 through January 15.8
You can sign up for an exchange plan or make coverage changes outside of open enrollment if you meet special enrollment period (SEP) requirements.9 This means you must have a qualifying life event, such as losing your health insurance, getting married, or having a baby.
If the open enrollment deadline passes and you don’t meet the SEP requirements, you can still sign up for an ACA plan. However, you must meet certain conditions, such as:
- If you’re eligible for premium tax credits and your income is not more than 150% of the poverty level, you can enroll anytime until at least 2025.10
- If you’re a Native American, you can enroll whenever necessary.11
For those who lose Medicaid or CHIP coverage between March 31, 2023 and July 31, 2024, an extended SEP allows you to enroll.12
How do I enroll in a Marketplace plan in Illinois?
Here are the main ways to enroll in a Marketplace health plan in Illinois:
- Online: You can sign up directly through HealthCare.gov, federal Marketplace website.
- By Phone: Dial 1-800-318-2596 (TTY: 1-855-889-4325) to enroll over the phone with a Marketplace representative. The call center is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, but it’s closed on holidays.
- In-person: Enrollment assistance is also available from trained Navigators and assisters who can answer your questions. Go to localhelp.HealthCare.gov or getcovered.illinois.gov to find in-person assistance in your area.
How can I find affordable health insurance in Illinois?
Individuals and families have several options to find affordable health insurance coverage in Illinois:
- ACA Marketplace (HealthCare.gov): The ACA Marketplace is the only place where you can qualify for income-based subsidies known as Advance Premium Tax Credits (APTC) that help lower your monthly premiums. Nearly nine out of 10 Illinois exchange enrollees were eligible for subsidies on 2023 plans, saving $540 monthly with premium tax credits in Illinois. As a result, the average after-subsidy monthly premium was $147.13
Source: CMS.gov14
- Cost-Sharing Reductions: You may qualify for cost-sharing reductions (CSR) if your income is below 250% of the federal poverty level.15 CSRs help reduce your out-of-pocket costs, making coverage more affordable.
- Medicaid: Illinois residents may qualify for affordable Medicaid coverage if eligible.
- Short-Term Health Insurance: For people who are not eligible for subsidies, Medicare, or Medicaid, short-term health insurance may offer a more budget-friendly option.
How many insurers offer Marketplace coverage in Illinois?
Eleven insurers are offering exchange plans in Illinois for 2023.16 Available plans vary across the state and include the following:
- Aetna (new for 2023)
- Celtic Insurance Co. (Ambetter)
- Cigna Healthcare of Illinois, Inc.
- Health Alliance Medical Plans, Inc. (HAMP)
- Health Care Service Corporation (Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois)
- Quartz Health Benefit Plans Corporation
- MercyCare HMO
- Molina Healthcare of Illinois, Inc.
- Oscar Health Plan, Inc.
- SSM Health Plan (WellFirst Health)
- UnitedHealthcare
Are Marketplace health insurance premiums increasing in Illinois?
Illinois’ individual market insurers have proposed the following average rate increases for 2024:17
Illinois’ ACA Marketplace Plan 2024 Proposed Rate Increases by Insurance Company |
|
---|---|
Issuer | Percent Increase |
Aetna | -2.90% |
Celtic Insurance Co. (Ambetter) | 6.87% |
Cigna HealthCare of Illinois, Inc. | 5.91% |
Health Alliance Medical Plans, Inc. (HAMP) | 10.68% |
Health Care Service Corporation (Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois) | 4.79% |
Quartz Health Benefit Plans Corporation | 14.41% |
MercyCare HMO | 12.15% |
Molina Healthcare of Illinois, Inc. | 3.19% |
Oscar Health Plan, Inc. | 6.77% |
SSM Health Plan (WellFirst Health) | 22.21% |
UnitedHealthcare | 3.02% |
Source: HealthCare.gov17
How many people are insured through Illinois’ Marketplace?
What health insurance resources are available to Illinois residents?
HealthCare.gov
Premium tax credits are available only through the ACA Marketplace.
Illinois Department of Insurance
The Illinois Department of Insurance regulates individual, small-group, and large-group health plans in the state (excluding self-insured ones). They also regulate brokers and agents selling private health insurance.
Illinois Senior Health Insurance Program (SHIP)
Contact them for assistance with Medicare questions.
Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services
Assistance with Medicaid eligibility or enrollment in Illinois and with All Kids, the state’s Children’s Health Insurance Program, and Family Care, the state’s Medicaid coverage for parents with minor children.
Louise Norris is an individual health insurance broker who has been writing about health insurance and health reform since 2006. She has written dozens of opinions and educational pieces about the Affordable Care Act for healthinsurance.org.
Footnotes
- ”Get Covered Illinois” getcovered.illinois.gov ⤶
- “Illinois dental insurance guide 2023” healthinsurance.org, Accessed September 2023 ⤶
- “Affordable Care Act | HFS” Illinois.gov, Accessed September 2023 ⤶
- "Total Monthly Medicaid & CHIP Enrollment and Pre-ACA Enrollment" KFF.org, April 2023 ⤶
- “Medicare Monthly Enrollment” CMS.gov, April 2023 ⤶
- “Availability of short-term health insurance in Illinois” healthinsurance.org, Feb. 23, 2023 ⤶
- “Are you eligible to use the Marketplace?” HealthCare.gov, 2023 ⤶
- “Get Covered Illinois FAQs” getcovered.illinois.gov, Accessed September 2023 ⤶
- “Enroll in or change 2023 plans – only with a Special Enrollment Period” HealthCare.gov, 2023 ⤶
- “An SEP if your income doesn’t exceed 150% of the federal poverty level” healthinsurance.org, Feb. 1, 2023 ⤶
- “Who doesn’t need a special enrollment period?“ healthinsurance.org, Accessed August 2023 ⤶
- “Temporary Special Enrollment Period (SEP) for Consumers Losing Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Coverage Due to Unwinding of the Medicaid Continuous Enrollment Condition– Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)” CMS.gov, Jan. 27, 2023 ⤶
- “2023 Marketplace Open Enrollment Period Public Use Files” CMS.gov, March 2023 ⤶ ⤶
- “2024 Marketplace Open Enrollment Period Public Use Files” CMS.gov, March 2024 ⤶
- “Federal Poverty Level (FPL)” HealthCare.gov, 2023 ⤶
- “2023 Analysis of Illinois On-Exchange Plans” Illinois.gov, 2023 ⤶
- ”Illinois Rate Review Submissions” HealthCare.gov, 2023 ⤶ ⤶
- “ASPE Issue Brief (2014)” ASPE, 2015 ⤶
- “Health Insurance Marketplaces 2015 Open Enrollment Period: March Enrollment Report”, HHS.gov, 2015 ⤶
- “HEALTH INSURANCE MARKETPLACES 2016 OPEN ENROLLMENT PERIOD: FINAL ENROLLMENT REPORT” HHS.gov, 2016 ⤶
- “2017 Marketplace Open Enrollment Period Public Use Files” CMS.gov, 2017 ⤶
- “2018 Marketplace Open Enrollment Period Public Use Files” CMS.gov, 2018 ⤶
- “2019 Marketplace Open Enrollment Period Public Use Files” CMS.gov, 2019 ⤶
- “2020 Marketplace Open Enrollment Period Public Use Files” CMS.gov, 2020 ⤶
- “2021 Marketplace Open Enrollment Period Public Use Files” CMS.gov, 2021 ⤶
- “2022 Marketplace Open Enrollment Period Public Use Files” CMS.gov, 2022 ⤶
- “Health Insurance Marketplaces 2023 Open Enrollment Report” CMS.gov, 2023 ⤶
- “HEALTH INSURANCE MARKETPLACES 2024 OPEN ENROLLMENT REPORT” CMS.gov, 2024 ⤶