Illinois open enrollment 2027 Open enrollment · Illinois

Illinois Open Enrollment 2027 for Self-Employed

Last updated November 3, 2026 · By Frank Caballero, licensed health insurance broker

Short answer

For self-employed people and 1099 contractors in Illinois, Get Covered Illinois sets the 2027 open enrollment dates; check its site for this year's deadlines. A private, medically underwritten plan does not wait for the window: if approved, it can start the first of any month, which suits income that never arrives on a schedule.

What 2027 looks like for you

Illinois's average 2027 rate change is 14% to 14.1% (finalized). The details are on the Illinois 2027 premium increase page.

The subsidy line for 2027 sits at 400% of the federal poverty level: $63,840 for one person and $86,560 for two. For self-employed people the income that counts is net business income after expenses, plus any other household income, and a strong fourth quarter can carry you over the line. Starting with tax year 2026 there is no cap on repaying excess advance credit, so estimate carefully. General information, not tax advice — confirm with your CPA based on your specific entity structure.

Illinois this year

This is the second open enrollment since Illinois left HealthCare.gov for its own exchange, Get Covered Illinois, and that exchange sets the dates, so follow its calendar rather than the federal one. Final 2027 rates climb about 14 percent on average, near the national figure, with six insurers filing. Plan lineups vary a lot between Chicago, the collar counties and downstate, because some insurers sell only in part of the state. Chicago consultants and designers, rideshare drivers, Joliet-area truckers and corn and soybean families each face a different menu, and anyone above the subsidy cutoff carries the increase in full.

Work I see most often among Illinois's self-employed buyers: 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.

One thing to do before you choose

Log in to Get Covered Illinois and update your 2027 earnings estimate before you compare plans, since the exchange now handles your income and household reporting. If you are a healthy Chicago consultant earning over the subsidy line, I can quote a private plan as well. Illinois no longer allows short-term plans, so underwritten private coverage, which the insurer approves only after a health review and which Get Covered Illinois does not sell, is the main alternative outside open enrollment.

Your checklist

Your Illinois renewal notice and its 2027 price
A net income estimate with a cushion
Doctors and prescriptions in each network
A private quote if you are healthy and near the line

Private plan or Marketplace?

Private plan

Healthy and above the line: priced on age, ZIP code and health, not income. Approval depends on health answers; not an ACA Marketplace plan.

Marketplace

A health condition or income under the line: Get Covered Illinois must accept you, and the subsidy may make it the better value.

Compare Illinois plans this open enrollment

Private plans priced first, the Marketplace alongside when it fits. Phone or video, English or Spanish, no fee.

Get a quote Book a call (786) 218-2384

About your broker

Frank Caballero (NPN 21032307), licensed in 31 states including Illinois. Phone or video, English or Spanish, no fee; independent, not HealthCare.gov or any government agency.

Questions

Who sets Illinois's 2027 open enrollment deadline?

Get Covered Illinois, Illinois's own exchange. Check its site for this year's dates before you plan around them.

Illinois banned short-term plans. What can a self-employed person use after missing open enrollment?

Outside the window, you need a qualifying event. Losing employer coverage, for example, gives you 60 days to enroll on Get Covered Illinois. The other route is private coverage with medical underwriting; if approved, it could start on the first of the following month, and benefits differ by policy.

Can I get a private plan in Illinois after open enrollment closes?

Yes. You can apply in any month and, if approved, a private plan can start the first of a month; the insurer can decline based on health answers.

More for Illinois

Official sources: Get Covered Illinois, Illinois's state 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.