Illinois health insurance questions, answered.
Answers from licensed agents about buying your own coverage in Illinois, organized by topic.
Getting started
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No. Starting with 2026 coverage, Illinois runs its own Marketplace called Get Covered Illinois. You apply, renew and get premium tax credits there instead of on HealthCare.gov.
Open enrollment runs from November 1, 2026 through January 15, 2027. You could start previewing 2027 plans and prices on October 19, 2026.
Illinois rates rose an average of 28.8% for 2026, after the extra federal tax credits expired. For 2027 the average increase is 14.1%. Your own price depends on your age, county, plan and income.
Leaving a job
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Possibly. Federal COBRA does not apply to employers that small, but Illinois continuation covers insured group plans of any size. If you were on the plan for 3 months in a row, you can usually keep it for up to 12 months at no more than the group rate.
Illinois spousal continuation lets a divorced or widowed spouse who is 55 or older keep the group coverage until becoming eligible for Medicare. If you are under 55, the limit is 2 years. You must notify the employer or insurer within 30 days, so act quickly.
It often is, because COBRA charges the full premium and does not qualify for tax credits. Losing job coverage gives you a special enrollment period, so compare a Marketplace plan with your COBRA quote before deciding.
Early retirement
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Most early retirees use a Marketplace plan, possibly with premium tax credits based on household income. If your spouse is still covered at work, Illinois continuation or spousal continuation may also apply.
Yes. Tax credits are based on your yearly household income, and in 2026 the cliff at 400% of the poverty level returned. Planning withdrawals and when to start Social Security can keep more of your help.
If she is 55 or older when you retire and your employer's plan is an insured group plan, Illinois law lets her continue coverage until she is eligible for Medicare. After the first two years, an administrative fee may be added.
Self-employed
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No. Illinois does not have its own individual mandate or tax penalty. Coverage is still worth having, since a single hospital stay can cost far more than a year of premiums.
Not for 2026. Premium help in Illinois comes from federal premium tax credits, which you can only get through Get Covered Illinois.
Report the change to Get Covered Illinois so your tax credit can be adjusted. If you take too much help, you may owe some back when you file taxes.
Short-term plans
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No. Illinois banned short-term limited duration plans starting January 1, 2025. Insurers cannot sell, renew or extend them for Illinois residents.
Losing job coverage usually opens a special enrollment period for a Marketplace plan. You may also qualify for Illinois continuation, COBRA, or Medicaid if your income is low.
Yes. The short-term ban does not cover fixed indemnity, hospital indemnity or travel policies. These pay set cash amounts and are not full health insurance.
Non-ACA options
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They operate in Illinois, but they are not insurance and do not guarantee payment. A 2021 bill to have the Department of Insurance oversee them did not pass, so read the guidelines carefully before joining.
Insurers
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Seven: Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois, Ambetter, UnitedHealthcare, Oscar, MercyCare HMO, Cigna and Molina. Not every insurer sells in every county.
Both are leaving the Illinois Marketplace. Your coverage continues through December 31, 2026, and you need to choose a new plan during open enrollment for 2027.
Yes. Aetna, along with Health Alliance and Quartz, stopped selling individual Marketplace plans in Illinois at the end of 2025.
Sources
Reviewed October 2026. Rules and prices change every year; a licensed agent will confirm what applies to you.
- Illinois Department of Insurance: 2027 Plan Year Rates for the Get Covered Illinois Marketplace (Oct. 14, 2026)
- Illinois Department of Insurance: 2026 Plan Year Rates for the Get Covered Illinois Marketplace (Sept. 5, 2025)
- Get Covered Illinois: 2027 plan changes
- healthinsurance.org: Illinois health insurance marketplace guide
- Illinois Department of Insurance: Short-Term Limited Duration Insurance FAQ
- Illinois Department of Insurance: Health Insurance Continuation Rights, COBRA and Illinois laws comparison
- Illinois General Assembly: HB4162 (102nd GA), Health Care Sharing Ministries
- Illinois Compiled Statutes: 215 ILCS 5/367.2 (spousal continuation)
- ACASignups.net: Illinois 2026 rate changes and insurer exits
See what you'd actually pay.
A licensed agent will compare plans from every insurer in your Illinois county, check your subsidy, and walk you through the options. No cost, no obligation.