For health insurance in Chicago, residents apply through Get Covered Illinois, the state marketplace, starting November 1, 2026 for 2027 coverage. Premium tax credits lower costs from 138% to 400% of poverty, Medicaid covers many adults below 138%, and uninsured Cook County adults can apply for Cook County Health’s CareLink program.
Updated for the 2027 plan year (October 2026)
How health insurance Chicago residents buy works in 2027
Chicago sits in Cook County, and like the rest of Illinois it no longer uses HealthCare.gov. Individual and family plans are sold through Get Covered Illinois, the state’s official marketplace, which is also the only place to get a premium tax credit.
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, so expect at least January 15, 2027, and enroll by December 15, 2026 to be safe for a January 1 start. Our Open Enrollment 2027 guide covers the national rules.
Cigna or Molina marketplace plan? Get Covered Illinois says Cigna and Molina plans won’t be offered on the marketplace from January 1, 2027. If you have one, pick a new plan during Open Enrollment. This notice is about marketplace plans; check your card if you’re unsure whether yours is a Medicaid plan.
Health insurance Chicago programs at a glance
Most people in the city fit one of a handful of paths. One Get Covered Illinois application screens your whole household for the first three.
| Program | Who it’s for | Where to apply |
|---|---|---|
| Marketplace plan + premium tax credit | Most people from 138% to 400% of poverty without affordable job coverage | Get Covered Illinois |
| Medicaid (HealthChoice Illinois plans, including CountyCare) | Adults 19–64 up to 138% of poverty; pregnant people up to 213% | Get Covered Illinois or the state ABE portal, any time |
| All Kids | Children in households up to 318% of poverty | Get Covered Illinois or ABE, any time |
| CareLink (not insurance) | Uninsured Cook County adults 19–64 who can’t get Medicaid | Cook County Health |
For 2027, the 400% income limit is $63,840 for one person and $132,000 for a family of four. The affordable health insurance Illinois guide has the full income table and the 2027 contribution percentages.
Chicago hospital networks: check yours before you choose
Chicago has an unusually dense mix of academic medical centers, and no single marketplace plan includes all of them. The network you pick decides which hospitals and specialists count as in-network.
Large systems in the city include Northwestern Medicine, Rush University Medical Center, UChicago Medicine, UI Health, Advocate Health Care and Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital. Before you enroll, search each plan’s provider directory for your primary care doctor, any specialists and the hospital you would use in an emergency.
Narrower networks often carry lower premiums, a common trade-off when comparing health insurance Chicago plans. That trade can work well if your doctors are in it, and badly if they are not, so check before price alone decides. Our guide on how to choose a health plan explains HMO, EPO and PPO differences.
Honesty.AI checks networks, applies your 2027 credit and compares every plan for your ZIP code.
Cook County’s safety net: CareLink, CountyCare and county hospitals
Cook County runs one of the country’s largest public health systems. Cook County Health operates John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital and Provident Hospital, plus a network of community clinics, and it matters for anyone weighing health insurance Chicago options on a tight budget.
CareLink is Cook County Health’s financial assistance program. Adults 19 to 64 who live in Cook County without insurance may apply; Cook County Health says immigration status won’t stop you from qualifying, you need 30 days of county residency, and you must reapply each year. People who have or qualify for Medicaid are not eligible, and children are directed to All Kids.
CareLink is a discount program, not health insurance. Its FAQ says it is accepted only at Cook County Health facilities, does not cover prescriptions, and requires an in-person application with a financial counselor. Because it won’t help with care at other hospital systems, so if you qualify for a marketplace plan or Medicaid, that coverage is usually the stronger choice. CountyCare, the county’s Medicaid plan, is one of the HealthChoice Illinois plans offered only in Cook County, according to the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services.
Immigrant families and the 2026–27 coverage changes
Chicago has large immigrant communities, and two federal changes affect them this year. Some lawfully present immigrants lost federally funded Medicaid on October 1, 2026, and premium tax credits narrow on January 1, 2027.
Get Covered Illinois opened a special enrollment period for people who lost Medicaid in this change. It runs through December 31, 2026, with coverage that can start back on October 1. Call 1-866-311-1119 (TTY 711) to use it, per the exchange’s announcement.
From January 1, 2027, premium tax credits are limited to citizens, green card holders, Cuban/Haitian entrants and COFA migrants. Others in this group should compare full-price plans, check CareLink and look at the community health centers below. Our 2027 subsidies guide explains who qualifies.
Self-employed, freelance and gig workers in Chicago
Rideshare and delivery drivers, freelancers and small-business owners make up a big share of marketplace shoppers. If you’re self-employed and comparing health insurance Chicago plans, your credit for 2027 is based on your best estimate of 2027 household income, then reconciled on the tax return you file in 2028.
When income swings month to month, base the estimate on your expected net self-employment income for the full year and update Get Covered Illinois if it changes. Underestimating can mean repaying part of the credit; overestimating means a refund at tax time. If your income could land near 400% of poverty, retirement contributions can keep you under the cliff.
Illinois also lets you start an application at tax time: check the health insurance box on your IL-1040 and Get Covered Illinois sends a notice of projected eligibility, with 60 days to enroll if you qualify.
Community health centers in Chicago
Federally qualified health centers see patients with or without insurance and offer sliding-scale fees based on income. Many also have staff who help with Medicaid and marketplace applications.
Long-running centers in the city include Erie Family Health Centers, Esperanza Health Centers, Lawndale Christian Health Center and Access Community Health Network. The Chicago Department of Public Health lists city health services and programs.
A clinic is not a substitute for insurance. A hospital stay or a cancer diagnosis needs real coverage, so use clinics alongside a plan, not instead of one, whenever you qualify.
Free enrollment help for health insurance Chicago families need
Get Covered Illinois funds certified navigators and works with licensed brokers who help at no cost. Use its free local help search to find an assister near your neighborhood, or call 1-866-311-1119.
Honesty is another option. Honesty.AI compares every plan for your ZIP code, checks Medicaid and All Kids, applies your credit and can enroll you, by chat, voice or text at any hour. Honesty® Insurance Services is licensed in Illinois. If you live outside the city, our Rockford guide covers northern Illinois, and the Illinois health insurance guide covers the whole state.
Compare 2027 Chicago plans 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
Where do Chicago residents buy health insurance for 2027?
At Get Covered Illinois, the state marketplace, not HealthCare.gov. Open Enrollment for 2027 coverage begins November 1, 2026. Enroll by December 15, 2026 to be safe for a January 1 start.
Is CareLink health insurance?
No. CareLink is Cook County Health’s financial assistance program for uninsured Cook County adults 19 to 64. It discounts care in the Cook County Health system but does not cover other hospitals, so a marketplace plan or Medicaid is usually stronger if you qualify.
What is CountyCare?
CountyCare is a Medicaid health plan offered only in Cook County. It is one of the HealthChoice Illinois managed care plans that Illinois Medicaid members can choose.
Do all Chicago plans include Northwestern, Rush and UChicago Medicine?
No. Networks differ by plan, and narrower networks often have lower premiums. Search each plan’s provider directory for your doctors and preferred hospital before you enroll.
I lost Medicaid on October 1, 2026 because of my immigration status. What can I do?
Get Covered Illinois offers a special enrollment period through December 31, 2026, with coverage that can start October 1. Call 1-866-311-1119. Premium tax credits for this group end January 1, 2027, so also ask about CareLink and community health centers.
Keep learning: the Illinois health insurance guide, affordable health insurance in Illinois, our Rockford guide, the 2027 subsidies guide and Open Enrollment 2027.
