Illinois health insurance market intelligence for 2027
Illinois now runs its own State-based Marketplace, Get Covered Illinois. CMS divides the individual and small-group market into 13 geographic rating areas covering all 102 counties. That makes geography a core part of every Illinois premium comparison: Cook County is its own rating area, the collar counties are split across several regions, and downstate counties are grouped into broader areas.
The Illinois Department of Insurance (IDOI) published final 2027 individual-market rate filings on October 14, 2026. Across six regulatory issuer rows, the final statewide weighted-average rate change is +14.1%; issuer-level final averages range from +1.8% to +14.9%. These percentage changes are not a personalized premium quote. Five issuers participate on the 2027 Marketplace: Molina also appears in the IDOI regulatory table, but its 2027 filing is off-Exchange only, for one plan in one county. Get Covered Illinois separately says Cigna and Molina Marketplace plans end January 1, 2027.
ApexTrusted expert take: what actually changes an Illinois plan decision
Get Covered Illinois is the official enrollment platform and the only Marketplace source for financial help. Do not use a legacy HealthCare.gov workflow for 2027 Illinois enrollment.
Illinois uses 13 CMS rating areas. Cook, Lake/McHenry, DuPage/Kane, the southern collar counties, and downstate groups are not one statewide pricing zone.
IDOI now publishes final 2027 individual-market decisions. Its +14.1% statewide weighted average differs from a personalized rate: ZIP, age, plan choice and eligible assistance still drive the household price.
Get Covered Illinois says both carriers’ Marketplace plans end for 2027. Affected households should actively re-shop rather than assuming the same plan continues.
Get Covered Illinois says enhanced tax credits expired after 2025. Financial help remains available for many residents, but the amount may be lower and 2027 eligibility rules also change for some households.
Use the exact product, current provider network, formulary, and out-of-pocket structure rather than choosing from carrier name alone.
Thirteen Illinois rating areas: Chicago and downstate markets are structurally different
CMS assigns Illinois counties to 13 geographic rating areas. Cook County is Rating Area 1 by itself. Lake and McHenry form Area 2; DuPage and Kane form Area 3; Grundy, Kankakee, Kendall, and Will form Area 4. The remaining counties are grouped into nine broader downstate regions. This geography helps explain where pricing can differ, but it does not by itself tell you which 2027 plan or provider network is available at a specific address.
13 CMS pricing regions across 102 true county outlines
Loading accurate Illinois county outlines from U.S. Census TIGERweb. Select a county to identify its CMS rating area; detailed county lists remain below.
Choose a county on the map to highlight its rating area and open the corresponding regional evidence panel below.
Pricing region is the starting point, not the final quote
Cook County stands alone as its own rating area.
Lake/McHenry, DuPage/Kane, and the southern collar counties are separate pricing groups.
Northwestern, central, Metro East, and southern counties are grouped into broader regional areas.
The Census county boundary and CMS rating area are authoritative geography; a specific insurer network or household quote still requires a live Marketplace check.
Cook County
Cook.
Lake / McHenry
Lake, McHenry.
DuPage / Kane
DuPage, Kane.
Southwest Chicago collar
Grundy, Kankakee, Kendall, Will.
Northwestern Illinois
Boone, Carroll, DeKalb, Jo Daviess, Lee, Ogle, Stephenson, Winnebago.
Western Illinois
Bureau, Hancock, Henderson, Henry, Mercer, Rock Island, Warren, Whiteside.
Peoria / central-west
Knox, LaSalle, Marshall, McDonough, Peoria, Putnam, Stark, Tazewell, Woodford, Fulton.
Bloomington / central
McLean, Livingston, DeWitt.
Champaign / east-central
Champaign, Coles, Douglas, Edgar, Piatt, Ford, Iroquois, Vermilion, Clark, Cumberland.
Springfield / central-south
Adams, Brown, Cass, Christian, Logan, Macon, Mason, Menard, Morgan, Moultrie, Pike, Sangamon, Schuyler, Scott, Shelby.
South-central / Mississippi corridor
Bond, Calhoun, Clinton, Greene, Jersey, Macoupin, Montgomery, Randolph, Washington.
Metro East
Madison, Monroe, St. Clair.
Southern Illinois
Alexander, Clay, Crawford, Edwards, Effingham, Fayette, Franklin, Gallatin, Hamilton, Hardin, Jackson, Jasper, Jefferson, Johnson, Lawrence, Marion, Massac, Perry, Pope, Pulaski, Richland, Saline, Union, Wabash, Wayne, White, Williamson.
2027 Illinois individual-market issuer filings and Marketplace transitions
These cards summarize the IDOI final 2027 individual-market decisions published October 14, 2026. They are not a declaration that every issuer sells through Get Covered Illinois in every county. Get Covered Illinois separately confirms that Cigna and Molina Marketplace plans end for 2027.
Get Covered Illinois says Cigna and Molina plans will no longer be available on its Marketplace beginning January 1, 2027. Customers with those 2026 plans keep coverage through December 31, 2026 and should choose a new 2027 plan during Open Enrollment.
SERFF ILCP-134960138. Standard 2027 individual-market filing. Marketplace/product availability should be verified live.
View company review →SERFF CECO-134907559. IDOI filing entity. Verify the current Get Covered Illinois product/brand presentation before enrollment.
SERFF MCIN-134909414. Final 2027 individual-market filing; current Marketplace geography and plan set should be checked live.
SERFF MHCI-134943671. IDOI specifies one off-Exchange-only plan in one county; Molina is not a 2027 Get Covered Illinois Marketplace issuer.
View company review →SERFF OHIN-134953841. Final 2027 individual-market rate action; verify exact counties and current Marketplace products.
SERFF UHLC-134951297. Final 2027 individual-market rate action; verify exact Get Covered Illinois product availability for the household.
View company review →| Issuer | Final avg | Final max | Final min | 2027 Marketplace note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois | 14.90% | 33.90% | -5.30% | Verify live Get Covered Illinois product/county availability |
| Celtic Insurance Company | 9.20% | 11.50% | 3.70% | Verify current Get Covered Illinois product/brand presentation |
| MercyCare HMO, Inc. | 12.20% | 13.10% | 8.70% | Verify live Marketplace availability |
| Molina Healthcare of Illinois | 1.80% | 1.80% | 1.80% | Off-Exchange only in 2027: one plan, one county; Marketplace plans end |
| Oscar Health Plan, Inc. | 13.00% | 16.50% | 8.80% | Verify exact 2027 counties/products live |
| UnitedHealthcare of Illinois | 12.40% | 15.50% | 7.00% | Verify exact Get Covered Illinois product availability |
2027 final issuer rate decisions and statewide weighted average
IDOI published the final 2027 individual-market rate table on October 14, 2026. The six issuer final averages below show different regulatory changes; the statewide weighted average is +14.1%. These figures are not final household premiums, insurer quality scores or a substitute for the live 2027 Get Covered Illinois quote. Molina’s 2027 IDOI row is off-Exchange only.
The +14.1% IDOI weighted average describes statewide filed rate changes, not any person’s premium increase. The household price still varies by age, rating area, selected product and current subsidy eligibility.
The State evidence above explains the 2027 market. The next step is to compare the live Marketplace options that actually apply to the household.
Keep the State context above, then compare current options using the actual ZIP, household details, provider needs and prescriptions that apply to you.
Premium research: keep location, household, and plan category fixed
Get Covered Illinois says consumers can compare plans by monthly premium, deductible, out-of-pocket costs, provider networks, covered services, and HSA eligibility. The Marketplace also explains that Cost-Sharing Reductions are tied to Silver plan enrollment for eligible consumers. That means premium research should hold the same household scenario constant while comparing total value rather than sorting on monthly premium alone.
Use the current Get Covered Illinois application or plan comparison tool.
Lower monthly premium can trade against higher cost when care is used.
Include the household’s risk tolerance in the comparison.
A cheap plan is not a strong value if core doctors or medications fit poorly.
2026 enrollment baseline and the 2027 enrollment window
CMS’s final 2026 Marketplace Open Enrollment snapshot reports 445,565 Illinois plan selections on the State-based Exchange. That is a completed 2026 Open Enrollment baseline, not a count of people with effectuated coverage throughout the year. For the 2027 plan year, Get Covered Illinois confirms Open Enrollment November 1, 2026 through January 15, 2027. Choose a plan by December 15, 2026 for January 1 coverage, or by January 15 for February 1 coverage, subject to completing enrollment and paying the first premium. Re-check the live Marketplace dates before submitting.
CMS final OEP snapshot for Illinois’ State-based Exchange.
Illinois’ official State-based Marketplace.
Dec. 15 for Jan. 1 coverage; later selections typically start Feb. 1, after payment.
Affected 2026 customers should actively choose a replacement 2027 plan.
Provider access: compare the exact product, not only the carrier name
Get Covered Illinois explicitly includes provider networks among the features consumers should compare. For a real decision, confirm the exact current plan, then verify preferred physicians, specialists, hospitals, and facilities in the current product directory. Carrier brand alone is not enough because networks can differ by product and area.
Do not stop at the issuer name.
Use the current product directory.
Facility access can materially change plan value.
Do not carry a 2026 network assumption into the new plan year.
Illinois plan quality: verify the rated 2027 product
Illinois households should read plan quality as evidence about an individual Marketplace product, not a ranking of every insurer doing business in the state. Federal Marketplace quality guidance describes a one-to-five-star approach for plans with published ratings. A plan without a published score should not be treated as a zero-rated plan.
Match the product offered through Get Covered Illinois for the household's ZIP and coverage year.
Compare applicable current-year overall and category ratings where available; do not invent missing scores.
Rated quality cannot establish whether a physician or hospital participates in the selected product.
Compare net premium, deductible, services and medication costs before preferring a higher-rated option.
Primary evidence: CMS quality public-use files and the plan details shown in the official Get Covered Illinois Marketplace.
Prescription coverage: compare the formulary, not just the metal level
A plan category tells you how costs are generally shared; it does not tell you whether a specific medication is on the formulary or what management rules apply. Check the exact 2027 drug list, tier, prior authorization, step therapy, quantity limits, preferred pharmacy, specialty-pharmacy rules, and mail-order options.
Name, dose, and fill frequency.
Do not infer coverage from last year.
Prior authorization, step therapy, and quantity limits matter.
Preferred retail, specialty, and mail-order rules can change real cost.
Financial help in 2027: available, but several rules changed
Get Covered Illinois says Premium Tax Credits and Cost-Sharing Reductions remain available for eligible households, while also noting that the enhanced tax credits that had lowered premiums for many residents expired at the end of 2025. Its 2027 Marketplace-change guidance also identifies new federal eligibility restrictions for some people affected by Medicaid work/community-engagement rules and for some immigrant groups. The exact household result therefore belongs in the live application.
Use estimated 2027 household income and family size in Get Covered Illinois.
Eligible shoppers must select a Silver plan to receive the additional out-of-pocket savings.
Get Covered Illinois says the enhanced tax credits expired after 2025, so some households may see less assistance.
Some Medicaid-related and immigration-status rules change. Verify the exact household pathway rather than relying on a prior-year result.
Illinois 2027 comparison workflow
Resolve the CMS rating area and live Marketplace geography.
This is especially important for Cigna and Molina customers.
Use the current plan set rather than assuming last year’s choices remain.
Age, household, income, and assistance assumptions should remain consistent.
Premium, deductible, out-of-pocket maximum, network, and prescriptions belong in one decision.
Use the current SBC, provider directory, formulary, and Marketplace details before enrollment.
Illinois health insurance research questions
What Marketplace does Illinois use in 2027?
Illinois uses Get Covered Illinois, its official State-based Marketplace.
How many ACA rating areas does Illinois have?
CMS lists 13 rating areas covering all 102 Illinois counties.
Are the 2027 IDOI filing percentages final approved changes?
Yes. IDOI published the final individual-market rate table on October 14, 2026, with a +14.1% statewide weighted average. Individual issuer changes differ, and the percentages are not personalized premiums.
Which Marketplace plans are ending for 2027?
Get Covered Illinois says Cigna and Molina plans will no longer be available on its Marketplace beginning January 1, 2027.
Does Molina’s IDOI filing conflict with its Marketplace exit?
No. An individual-market regulatory filing and Marketplace participation differ. IDOI explicitly marks Molina’s final 2027 filing as off-Exchange only: one plan in one county. Get Covered Illinois independently confirms its Marketplace plans end.
How many people selected Illinois Marketplace plans for 2026?
CMS’s final 2026 Open Enrollment snapshot reports 445,565 Illinois plan selections. That is a plan-selection metric, not a guarantee of effectuated coverage throughout 2026.
What should I compare besides monthly premium?
Get Covered Illinois recommends comparing deductible, out-of-pocket costs, provider networks, covered services, and other plan features in addition to monthly premium.
Methodology and direct official sources
This review uses Get Covered Illinois, the Illinois Department of Insurance, and CMS as primary sources. The rate figures use IDOI’s October 14, 2026 final 2027 individual-market filing decisions, not the older initial table; the statewide weighted average is +14.1%. Marketplace-exit statements come from Get Covered Illinois. CMS supplies official rating-area geography and the completed 2026 enrollment baseline.
Research & editing by Tú Nguyễn Founder & Research Editor
Tú Nguyễn operates ApexTrusted and researches public insurer, government and regulatory information for its guides. This is editorial research, not a specialist medical or insurance-license review.
Read full editor biographyWhy you can trust this guide
ApexTrusted identifies the dates, geographic scope and limits of the published sources behind each state guide. Carrier availability, prices and networks need plan-specific verification. Referral compensation is disclosed separately from editorial research.
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Use the Illinois research to compare the options that actually apply to you
The State review explains the market, geography, rate and network context. The next step is to keep those findings attached to your real ZIP, household, providers, prescriptions and current plan choices.