Illinois Open Enrollment for 2027 Coverage
Last updated November 3, 2026 · By Frank Caballero, licensed health insurance broker
Short answer
Get Covered Illinois sets Illinois's open enrollment dates for 2027 coverage; check its site for this year's deadlines. Private, medically underwritten plans don't use the window: if approved, they can start the first of any month.
Key dates for Illinois
| What | Get Covered Illinois |
|---|---|
| Open enrollment opens | Set by Get Covered Illinois; check its site |
| Open enrollment closes | Set by Get Covered Illinois; check its site |
| Deadline for a January 1, 2027 start | Set by Get Covered Illinois; check its site |
| Private plans | Any month, if approved |
Illinois at a glance
- Where Illinois buys Marketplace plans: Get Covered Illinois, Illinois's own exchange
- 2027 average rate change: 14% to 14.1% (finalized)
- Insurers filing individual plans: six
- Small-group average change: about 17.6%
- Largest metro areas: Chicago, Aurora–Naperville, Rockford and Peoria
- Medicaid expansion: Yes (a separate program, not tied to this window)
What changed for 2027
Illinois' 14 percent is finalized and close to the national average, with small-group plans up about 17.6 percent. What changed most is the address: Get Covered Illinois handles renewals, income updates and new applications, and its dates can differ from HealthCare.gov's. More detail is on the Illinois 2027 premium increase page.
For Illinois households buying 2027 coverage, the Marketplace premium tax credit stops at 400% of the federal poverty level: $63,840 for one person, $86,560 for two, $109,280 for three and $132,000 for four. The repayment caps were removed starting with tax year 2026, so any excess advance credit is repaid in full on Form 8962. General information, not tax advice — confirm with your CPA based on your specific entity structure.
Who this year's window matters for in Illinois
This is only the second open enrollment on Get Covered Illinois, which replaced HealthCare.gov for 2026, so returning enrollees should sign in to the state exchange rather than the federal site. Six insurers filed for 2027, but some sell only in part of the state, so a household in Chicago or Naperville sees a different lineup than one in Peoria or Springfield. Small employers face a sharper increase, about 17.6 percent on group plans.
Self-employed work that is common in Illinois, and the people I most often help there: consultants, designers and other freelancers in Chicago, rideshare and delivery drivers, owner-operator truck drivers around the Joliet intermodal yards, construction trades, real estate agents, and corn and soybean farm families downstate.
Before you renew in Illinois
Chicago-area freelancers whose families see doctors in Indiana or Wisconsin should check whether a 2027 plan covers care across the state line, because many Chicago plans are HMOs that cover only emergencies elsewhere. Downstate, from Rockford to Springfield, fewer insurers sell in each county. Since this is only the second year on Get Covered Illinois, double-check that your household and income details carried over correctly.
Should you renew, switch, or look at private?
Auto-renew risk
Do nothing and Get Covered Illinois re-enrolls you at the new 2027 price, 14% to 14.1% higher on average in Illinois.
Healthy, income above the line
Price a private plan in Illinois too. If approved, it can start the first of any month, with no wait for Illinois's window.
Health conditions or subsidy-eligible income
Use the Marketplace. Get Covered Illinois plans can't decline you or charge more for your health.
Checklist before you pick a plan
- Your Illinois renewal notice
- The new 2027 premium and deductible
- Doctors and prescriptions still in network, including any care in Chicago or Aurora–Naperville
- Your 2027 income estimate
Missed it?
After Illinois's window closes, a Marketplace plan needs a special enrollment event: losing other coverage, a move, marriage or a baby, generally within 60 days, through Get Covered Illinois. Check with Can I enroll now? or the missed open enrollment guide.
Leaving a job in Illinois? Illinois requires insured group plans to offer up to 12 months of continuation after three months of coverage, and gives divorced or widowed spouses up to two years.
Short-term plans, if you only need a bridge: Illinois banned new short-term health plans starting January 1, 2025. They are not Marketplace coverage.
In Illinois, a private, medically underwritten plan needs no event. If approved, it starts the first of a month; approval is not guaranteed.
Compare Illinois plans before you renew
Private plans priced first, the Marketplace alongside when it fits. Phone or video, English or Spanish, no fee.
About your broker
Frank Caballero (NPN 21032307) is a health insurance broker licensed in 31 states including Illinois. Phone or video, English or Spanish, no fee. BBB Accredited (A) and rated 4.9 on Google from 78 reviews. He is independent, not Get Covered Illinois or a government agency.
Illinois open enrollment questions
When does open enrollment end in Illinois for 2027?
Get Covered Illinois sets Illinois's closing date, not HealthCare.gov. Check its site rather than assuming the federal January 15 date.
What happens if I miss the December 15 deadline in Illinois?
Get Covered Illinois sets the start date for later choices. After the window, you need a qualifying event, or a private plan, which if approved can start the first of a month.
Can I get a private plan in Illinois outside open enrollment?
Yes. In Illinois you can apply in any month, and if approved, a private, medically underwritten plan starts the first of a month; the insurer can decline based on health.
Will I be auto-renewed in Illinois?
Usually, at the 2027 price: 14% to 14.1% higher on average.
Is there a fee to use a broker in Illinois?
No. Illinois clients pay nothing; the insurance company pays the broker, and Marketplace premiums are the same with or without one.
Why can't I find my Illinois plan on HealthCare.gov?
Illinois moved to its own exchange, Get Covered Illinois, for the 2026 plan year. Renewals, income updates and new applications for 2027 go through Get Covered Illinois, which also sets the open enrollment dates.
More for Illinois
Open enrollment in nearby states
Official sources: Get Covered Illinois, Illinois's state exchange. Get Covered Illinois is Illinois's state-run exchange. FC Insurance Solutions is an independent, licensed brokerage and is not affiliated with any government agency.
Written by Frank Caballero, licensed health insurance broker in Illinois and 30 other states, NPN 21032307. Last updated November 3, 2026.