For affordable health insurance in Illinois, residents apply at Get Covered Illinois, the state’s own marketplace, where premium tax credits cut costs for incomes from 138% to 400% of poverty. Open Enrollment for 2027 starts November 1, 2026. Illinois expanded Medicaid, so many adults under 138% qualify for free coverage.
Updated for the 2027 plan year (October 2026)
- Where affordable coverage starts
- 2027 income limits by household
- Your share of the benchmark plan
- Free or low-cost coverage for adults and kids
- Cost-sharing reductions
- What drives your cost in 2027
- Why short-term plans aren’t an option
- Ways to enroll outside the usual window
- Illinois cities
- Frequently asked questions
Where affordable health insurance in Illinois starts
Illinois runs its own exchange. Since the 2026 plan year, individual and family coverage is sold through Get Covered Illinois, a division of the Illinois Department of Insurance, instead of HealthCare.gov. It is the only place in the state to apply for the federal premium tax credit.
That credit is the main reason coverage gets affordable. It caps what you pay for the second-lowest-cost Silver plan in your area at a set share of your household income, and you can apply it to any metal level. One application also screens everyone in the home for Medicaid and All Kids.
Finding affordable health insurance Illinois residents can actually use means looking past the premium: the deductible should be one you could pay, and the network should include your doctors. Our Illinois health insurance guide covers the full statewide picture, and our national page on affordable health insurance explains the basics that apply everywhere.
2027 income limits for affordable health insurance Illinois families can get
Premium tax credits for 2027 coverage use the 2026 HHS poverty guidelines. In Illinois, adults below 138% of poverty are generally routed to Medicaid, and Marketplace credits run from 138% up to 400%.
| Household size | 100% FPL | 138% FPL (Medicaid line for adults) | 400% FPL (where credits end) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $15,960 | $22,025 | $63,840 |
| 2 | $21,640 | $29,863 | $86,560 |
| 3 | $27,320 | $37,702 | $109,280 |
| 4 | $33,000 | $45,540 | $132,000 |
For larger households, add $5,680 per person at the 100% level. If your income is near either line, apply anyway: the marketplace makes the final call, and small changes in expected income can move you between programs.
Watch the cliff: the enhanced credits that reached above 400% of poverty expired at the end of 2025. For 2027, earning even slightly over 400% means losing the whole credit. Pre-tax retirement and HSA contributions lower the income the marketplace counts.
Your share of the benchmark plan in 2027
IRS Revenue Procedure 2026-26 sets the share of income each household is expected to pay for the benchmark Silver plan in 2027. The credit covers the rest of that plan’s price.
| Household income (% of FPL) | Expected contribution (share of income) |
|---|---|
| Under 133% | 2.15% |
| 133% – 150% | 3.23% – 4.30% |
| 150% – 200% | 4.30% – 6.78% |
| 200% – 250% | 6.78% – 8.66% |
| 250% – 300% | 8.66% – 10.22% |
| 300% – 400% | 10.22% |
| Over 400% | No credit |
Choose a plan priced below the benchmark and you pay less than your expected share; choose a richer plan and you pay the difference. You estimate 2027 income when you apply and reconcile the credit on the tax return you file in 2028, as the IRS explains. Our 2027 subsidies guide walks through the math.
Honesty.AI estimates your 2027 credit, checks Medicaid and All Kids, and compares every plan in your Illinois county.
Free or low-cost health insurance for adults and kids in Illinois
People searching for Illinois free health insurance for adults are usually looking for Medicaid. Illinois expanded Medicaid under the ACA, so adults 19 to 64 generally qualify with income up to 138% of poverty, according to the Get Covered Illinois eligibility chart.
The same chart lists two higher limits. Pregnant people can qualify for Moms & Babies up to 213% of poverty, and children can qualify for All Kids up to 318%. Most Medicaid members get care through a HealthChoice Illinois managed care plan, and you can apply any time of year through the state’s ABE portal or Get Covered Illinois.
Federal changes arriving in 2027
Two federal changes matter for low-income adults. First, the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services says expansion adults without children under 18 at home must meet or be exempt from new work, school or volunteer rules starting with renewals on or after January 1, 2027, and will renew every six months.
Second, some lawfully present immigrants lost federally funded Medicaid on October 1, 2026. Get Covered Illinois opened a special enrollment period for them through December 31, 2026. From January 1, 2027, premium tax credits are limited to citizens, green card holders, Cuban/Haitian entrants and COFA migrants; see our immigrant subsidy section.
Cost-sharing reductions: when Silver is the smart buy
Cost-sharing reductions lower deductibles, copays and the out-of-pocket maximum, and they only come with Silver plans. They are available to households at or below 250% of poverty.
The Get Covered Illinois chart shows three levels: the strongest between 138% and 150% of poverty, a middle level from 150% to 200%, and a lighter boost from 200% to 250%. In each case the Silver plan behaves more like a Gold or Platinum plan when you use care, while the credit still applies to the premium.
For 2027, the standard out-of-pocket maximum is $12,000 for one person and $24,000 for a family. Cost-sharing reductions lower that cap, which is why a Silver plan can cost less over a year than a Bronze plan with a smaller premium. Our guide on how to choose a health plan shows how to compare total yearly cost.
What drives the cost of coverage in Illinois for 2027
Your price depends on age, county, household size, income and the metal level you pick. Two outside forces are pushing prices up for 2027, so shopping matters more than usual.
- Rate increases. Illinois insurers proposed an average increase of about 14% for 2027 individual plans, according to ACA Signups’ summary of the filings. Illinois now reviews and can modify or reject health rate filings through the Department of Insurance. Nationally, KFF found a median proposed increase of 15%.
- Carrier exits. Cigna and Molina plans will no longer be offered on Get Covered Illinois from January 1, 2027, according to the exchange’s 2027 plan changes notice. Their members must choose a new plan during Open Enrollment.
- Smaller credits. The expanded credits of 2021–2025 are gone, so 2026 net premiums jumped for many people, and the 400% cliff is back for 2027.
Carriers and networks vary by county, so the affordable health insurance Illinois shoppers find in one county may not exist in the next. Compare every option for your ZIP code instead of renewing automatically.
Why short-term plans aren’t an affordable Illinois option
Illinois banned short-term, limited-duration health insurance. Since January 1, 2025, no insurer may issue, renew or extend a short-term plan for an Illinois resident under Public Act 103-0649, as the Illinois Department of Insurance explains.
That rule holds whatever happens federally. The 2024 federal rule limits short-term plans to a three-month first term and four months in total, and in August 2025 federal agencies said they would not prioritize enforcing that limit while they revisit it. States can still apply their own law, and Illinois law bars these plans outright.
The ban does not cover excepted-benefit products such as hospital indemnity or travel insurance. Those can add cash benefits, but they are not health insurance and do not replace an ACA plan, especially if you have a health condition. If anyone tries to sell you a short-term plan in Illinois, the Department’s complaint line is 866-445-5364.
Ways to get covered outside Open Enrollment
Open Enrollment for 2027 coverage begins November 1, 2026. Get Covered Illinois sets its own deadline and had not posted the 2027 end date by mid-October; expect it to run through at least January 15, 2027, and enroll by December 15, 2026 to be safe for a January 1 start.
Because Illinois runs its own exchange, it has added paths other states don’t have:
- Pregnancy. Get Covered Illinois added pregnancy as a qualifying life event.
- Tax Time Easy Enrollment. Check the health insurance box on your IL-1040; you then get a notice of projected eligibility and 60 days to enroll if eligible, per the exchange announcement.
- Medicaid and All Kids. Applications are accepted all year.
Losing job coverage, moving, marrying or having a baby also opens a special enrollment period, generally for 60 days.
Illinois cities
Affordable health insurance Illinois families can find looks different across the state, because carriers and safety-net programs vary by county. Our local guides cover the details.
- Health insurance in Chicago: Cook County has its own safety net, including Cook County Health’s CareLink program for uninsured adults and CountyCare for Medicaid members, plus a dense mix of academic medical centers where network checks matter.
- Health insurance in Rockford: three hospital systems serve Winnebago County, a community health center offers payment assistance, and families who cross the Wisconsin line for work or a move need to know Illinois enrollment runs through Get Covered Illinois, not HealthCare.gov.
Find affordable 2027 coverage the honest way
Honesty.AI is the world’s first patented, licensed AI insurance agent. It compares ACA, alternative and ancillary plans based on your family’s needs and is on your side, by chat, voice or text, 24/7. Honesty Is Your Best Policy®.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get affordable health insurance in Illinois?
Apply at Get Covered Illinois, the state marketplace. One application checks Medicaid, All Kids and the premium tax credit, which caps what you pay for the benchmark Silver plan at a share of your income. Compare total yearly cost, not just the premium.
Is there free health insurance for adults in Illinois?
Yes, for many low-income adults. Illinois expanded Medicaid, so adults 19 to 64 generally qualify with income up to 138% of poverty. Starting with renewals in 2027, some adults must meet new federal work or exemption rules.
What income qualifies for a premium tax credit in Illinois in 2027?
Generally 138% to 400% of the federal poverty level for adults who can’t get Medicaid, Medicare or affordable job coverage. For a household of four, that is $45,540 to $132,000.
Can I buy short-term health insurance in Illinois?
No. Since January 1, 2025, Illinois law bars insurers from issuing, renewing or extending short-term, limited-duration plans for Illinois residents. Hospital indemnity and travel policies are still sold, but they are not a replacement for ACA coverage.
Are Silver plans worth it in Illinois?
If your income is at or below 250% of poverty, often yes. Only Silver plans carry cost-sharing reductions, which lower deductibles, copays and the out-of-pocket maximum.
Keep learning: read the Illinois health insurance guide, our local guides for Chicago and Rockford, the 2027 subsidies guide, and how to choose a health plan.
