Best Cheap Health Insurance in Illinois (2026)
Blue Cross Blue Shield is the best health insurance company in Illinois. Its cheapest Silver plan costs $533 per month before discounts.
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Best and cheapest health insurance in Illinois
Cheapest health insurance companies in Illinois
Molina, Oscar and Ambetter have the cheapest health insurance plans in Illinois, with Silver plans starting at $491 per month before discounts.
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Affordable health insurance plans in Illinois
Company |
Cost
| |
|---|---|---|
| Molina | $491-$563 |
| Oscar | $502-$626 |
| Ambetter | $530-$879 |
| Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois | $533-$1,312 |
- Molina has the cheapest health insurance plans in Illinois, with Silver rates starting at $491 per month. Molina is the cheapest company in several major cities, including Chicago, Aurora and Naperville.
- But depending on how much you make, a Gold plan might actually be cheaper than a Silver plan. On average, Gold plans cost $727 per month, while Silver plans cost $888 per month. Plus, Gold plans cover more of your medical bills than Silver plans. Gold plans are likely a better option if you have a moderate or high income. However, if you make between $15,650 and $39,125 per year as a single person or between $32,150 and $80,375 per year as a family of four, Silver might be the better choice because you'll get extra discounts that make medical care cheaper.
Cheapest Gold plans in Illinois: Oscar
If you choose a Gold plan and still want the cheapest rate, get quotes from Oscar. Oscar has the cheapest Gold plans in Illinois, with rates starting at $405 per month. That's quite a bit lower than the average rate for a Gold plan, which is $727 per month.
However, it's always important to choose a plan that fits your budget and your medical needs. Oscar's plans might be cheap, but the company has the lowest rating in Illinois. It gets just 2 out of 5 stars on Get Covered Illinois, the state's health insurance marketplace. This means its customer service and coverage quality are likely not as good as other plans.
Aetna is leaving the Illinois state health marketplace at the end of 2025. That means you'll need to get new coverage during open enrollment (Nov. 1 to Jan. 15) if you have an Aetna plan.
Current Aetna customers should compare rates from leading companies, such as BCBS of IL and Molina.
Best health insurance companies in Illinois
Blue Cross and Blue Shield (BCBS) of Illinois sells the best health insurance in Illinois.
BCBS of Illinois has a strong rating of 4-out-of-5 stars from the marketplace. Plus, the company has an excellent 5-star membership experience rating, which means its members are usually pleased with the care they get while on the plan.
In addition to its great customer satisfaction reputation, BCBS of Illinois offers many affordable health insurance plan options, so you can find the best coverage for your individual situation.
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Best-rated health insurance companies in Illinois
Company |
ACA rating
|
VP rating
|
|---|---|---|
| Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois | ||
| Ambetter | ||
| UnitedHealthcare | ||
| Molina | N/A | |
| MercyCare | N/A |
Plus, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois is the only company in the state that sells PPO plans, which let you see a specialist without a referral. You'll also be able to see out-of-network doctors and still have some coverage.
To get health insurance in Illinois for 2026, you'll shop on Get Covered Illinois, the state's new marketplace.
If you go to HealthCare.gov, you'll be redirected to Get Covered Illinois. You can review all the plans in your area, compare your options and get help choosing the right plan for you.
How much do health insurance plans cost in Illinois?
The average cost of health insurance in Illinois is $888 per month, but that is expected to drop to about $228 per month if you get discounts based on your income.
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- Your age heavily impacts your health insurance rates. A 60-year-old individual pays more than twice as much for the same level of coverage as a 40-year-old does. Younger people tend to pay the lowest rates since it is less likely they will have serious health problems.
- The plan level you choose also affects your rate. Plans with less coverage, like Bronze and Catastrophic, are usually cheaper each month, but you'll pay more when you go to the doctor. Plans with more coverage, like Gold and Silver, cost more per month but let you pay less for medical care.
- In Illinois, Gold plans often cost less on average than Silver plans. If you make more than $39,125 per year as an individual or more than $80,375 if you're part of a family of four, consider a Gold plan. If you make less than that, a Silver plan might be a better option because of the plan tier's unique discounts.
Health insurance discount changes in Illinois for 2026
Health insurance in Illinois could cost around $228 per month if you qualify for discounts based on your income in 2026.
That's almost twice as much as the cost after discounts in 2025, which was about $119 per month. Discounts in 2026 aren't likely going to be as big as they were in 2025 because the bigger discounts are expiring at the end of the year. Congress could still renew the bigger discounts, but it could also restructure the subsidy program entirely.
Health insurance rates in Illinois after subsidies (2025 vs. 2026)
Income | 2025 rate | 2026 rate | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| $30,000 | $49 | $155 | 216% |
| $40,000 | $154 | $287 | 86% |
| $50,000 | $283 | $415 | 47% |
| $60,000 | $423 | $498 | 18% |
| $70,000+ | $474 | $646 | 36% |
Average cost after subsidies for a single 40-year-old with a Benchmark Silver plan.
To qualify for discounts, you have to make between $15,650 and $62,600 as an individual or $32,150 and $128,600 as a family of four. Your subsidy will be higher if you make less money.
You can use your subsidy to help you buy a plan from any company. Subsidies can be used for Bronze, Silver or Gold plans, but they can't be used on Catastrophic plans.
Keep in mind, Congress is still deciding what to do with subsidies in 2026 and beyond. This means that who qualifies and discount levels could change, and the entire program could look very different next year.
Average cost of health insurance by IL county
Average health insurance rates in Illinois range between $633 and $1,290 per month, depending on the county where you live.
Rates are lowest around Chicago, potentially because it's generally easier and faster to get medical care in more populated areas. Southeastern Illinois tends to have the highest average rates.
Average Silver health insurance rates by Illinois county
IL county | Monthly rate |
|---|---|
| Adams | $1,089 |
| Alexander | $1,290 |
| Bond | $871 |
| Boone | $883 |
| Brown | $1,089 |
Monthly rates for a 40-year-old who's not eligible for subsidies.
Cheap Illinois health insurance plans by city
Molina sells the cheapest health insurance in Chicago, with rates as low as $491 per month for a Silver plan.
Molina is also cheap in the areas surrounding Chicago, including Aurora, Naperville and Elgin, as well as in Peoria. Oscar has the cheapest rates in Joliet, while MercyCare is cheapest in Rockford. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois is also often a cheap company.
But cheap rates aren't the only thing you should look at. Make sure you always review how well the plan fits your medical needs, too.
Cheapest health insurance by IL county
County | Cheapest plan | Monthly rates |
|---|---|---|
| Adams | BCBS of IL Choice Preferred Silver PPO 801 | $1,062 |
| Alexander | BCBS of IL Choice Preferred Silver PPO 801 | $1,258 |
| Bond | Ambetter Clear Silver | $791 |
| Boone | MercyCare Silver Standard | $683 |
| Brown | BCBS of IL Choice Preferred Silver PPO 801 | $1,062 |
Cheapest Silver plan with rates for a 40-year-old
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Best medical insurance by level of coverage
The best health insurance plan for you depends on how much health care you need and how much you want to spend each month. It also changes based on where you live because some companies and plans are only available in part of the state.
Gold plans: Best for frequent medical care
| Gold plans pay for about 80% of your medical care. |
Gold plans cost an average of $727 per month in Illinois.
If you go to the doctor often, consider a Gold plan. These plans pay for the biggest share of your medical bills, so they can save you money overall if you need frequent or complex care.
In Illinois, Gold plans cost less than Silver plans, on average. Gold plans are usually the best option if you make more than $39,125 per year as a single person or more than $80,375 per year as a family of four. If you make less than that, consider a Silver plan for the discounts.
Silver plans: Best for people with low incomes
| Silver plans pay for about 70% of your medical care. |
Silver plans cost an average of $888 per month in Illinois.
Silver health plans are a good choice if you make between $15,650 and $39,125 per year as an individual, or between $32,150 and $80,375 per year as a family of four, because you can get extra discounts called cost-sharing reductions. These discounts can make a Silver plan's coverage even better than a Gold plan, and most people in IL who get a plan from the marketplace can get them.
Bronze plans: Best if you're young and typically healthy
| Bronze plans pay for about 60% of your medical care. |
Bronze plans in Illinois cost $604 per month, on average.
Bronze plans are good if you're mostly healthy and only go to the doctor for routine checkups and occasional illnesses or injuries. They're cheaper than Silver and Gold plans but require you to pay more of your medical bills in the form of higher deductibles, coinsurance and copays. If you have a Bronze plan, it's a good idea to have money saved to pay for higher medical bills.
Catastrophic plans: Best for limited coverage
Catastrophic plans cost an average of $522 per month for a 21-year-old in Illinois.
Catastrophic health insurance plans are the cheapest options in IL, but they offer the lowest level of coverage. Having a Catastrophic plan is better than not having health insurance, but it's not a good option for most people.
You can only qualify for a Catastrophic plan if you're under 30 years old or meet certain other requirements. You also can't use a premium tax credit to make Catastrophic plans cheaper. You should only consider a Catastrophic plan if you have the finances to pay for expensive medical bills if you become seriously ill or injured.
Affordable or free health insurance plans in Illinois if you have a low income
If you can't afford a traditional medical insurance plan, you have a few options to get low-cost medical insurance in Illinois.
Medicaid in Illinois
If you have a low income, Illinois Medicaid could be a good health insurance option. To qualify for Medicaid in Illinois, you typically have to make less than around $22,000 as an individual or about $44,000 as a family of four.
Illinois has several Medicaid programs.
- All Kids offers coverage for children under 18.
- FamilyCare is for parents and other relative caretakers who care for children.
- ACA Adults is for those between 19 and 64 who don't have or care for children, and who don't qualify for Medicare.
- Moms & Babies gives health care coverage to women when they are pregnant and for 60 days after their baby is born. If the mother was covered by the program during pregnancy, the baby is also covered until they're a year old.
- Former Foster Care is medical insurance for adults between ages 19 and 25 who have aged out of foster care.
- Aid to the Aged, Blind or Disabled (AABD) is for adults who are over 65, blind or disabled.
The income limits may vary depending on the program.
Use cost-sharing reductions for cheaper medical care
If you buy a Silver plan, you might qualify for discounts on the costs your insurance doesn't pay, like your deductible, coinsurance and copays. These are called cost-sharing reductions, and they're only available on Silver plans.
To qualify for cost-sharing reductions, you need to make between $15,650 and $39,125 per year if you're single or between $32,150 and $80,375 per year if you're part of a family of four. The lower your annual income, the lower your costs could be when you get medical care.
Are health insurance rates going up in Illinois in 2026?
The cost of health insurance in Illinois increased by 11%, on average, between 2025 and 2026.
Silver plans, which are the most popular option in the state, are 30% more expensive for 2026 compared to 2025. Silver plan rates are up 60% since 2022.
Bronze plans went up by 9% in 2026, and Gold plans actually got 6% cheaper.
Bronze
Silver
Gold
Year | Cost | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | $413 | – |
| 2023 | $480 | 16% |
| 2024 | $537 | 12% |
| 2025 | $553 | 3% |
| 2026 | $604 | 9% |
Monthly costs are for a 40-year-old. Expanded Bronze plans are included in 2024, 2025 and 2026 averages, when they're offered.
Bronze
Year | Cost | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | $413 | – |
| 2023 | $480 | 16% |
| 2024 | $537 | 12% |
| 2025 | $553 | 3% |
| 2026 | $604 | 9% |
Monthly costs are for a 40-year-old. Expanded Bronze plans are included in 2024, 2025 and 2026 averages, when they're offered.
Silver
Year | Cost | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | $556 | – |
| 2023 | $561 | 1% |
| 2024 | $633 | 13% |
| 2025 | $684 | 8% |
| 2026 | $888 | 30% |
Monthly costs are for a 40-year-old.
Gold
Year | Cost | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | $636 | – |
| 2023 | $654 | 3% |
| 2024 | $734 | 12% |
| 2025 | $769 | 5% |
| 2026 | $727 | -6% |
Monthly costs are for a 40-year-old.
Why is health insurance expensive in IL in 2026?
The continued increase in health care costs is pushing up health insurance rates in 2026.
When it's more expensive to go to the doctor, health insurance companies have to pay higher costs for your care. To make up for this, rates go up for everyone.
Additionally, more people taking expensive weight-loss drugs and the expiration of the bigger, "enhanced" subsidies are also contributing to higher rates.
How to save on medical insurance in 2026
Affordable Care Act (ACA) plans, also called "Obamacare" plans, give you good medical insurance coverage no matter what plan level you pick. All the plans have to include coverage for at least 10 health situations, including:
- Preventive and wellness visits
- Emergency room visits
- Prescription medications
The biggest difference between the plans is how much the plan pays and how much you pay. Lower-tier plans have less coverage, which means you have to pay a bigger share of the medical bills you get.
Average cost of health insurance by plan type in Illinois
In Illinois, you can choose between three types of health insurance networks: HMOs, PPOs and POS plans.
HMOs and PPOs are the most common types of plans. HMOs are cheaper but require you to get a referral to see a specialist. You can also only use certain medical offices. Going to a doctor outside the plan's network means you have to pay the entire cost yourself.
PPOs cost more, but you don't have to wait for a referral to go to a specialist and you can use any doctor you want. You'll pay more if you go to an out-of-network doctor, but you'll still have some coverage.
Type | Cost |
|---|---|
| POS | $576 |
| HMO | $739 |
| PPO | $1,122 |
Monthly costs are for a 40-year-old with a Silver plan.
POS plans are less common. These plans let you use any doctor, just like a PPO plan. But you have to have a primary care doctor and get referrals to see specialists. Only Blue Cross Blue Shield offers POS plans in Illinois.
COBRA insurance in Illinois
In Illinois, COBRA costs an average of $767 per month for a single person.
A Silver plan costs an average of $888 per month in IL, while a Gold plan costs $727 per month on average. Because the rates are similar, it makes sense to compare your COBRA coverage to a marketplace plan and decide which one works best for your situation.
If you lose, quit or retire from your job, COBRA lets you keep the health insurance you had with your employer for 18 months. But you have to pay the full cost for the policy; your former employer won't pay anything.
COBRA is designed to give you time to find another health insurance policy. But an ACA policy is often cheaper.
Short-term health insurance plans in Illinois
Short-term health insurance plans in Illinois can't last longer than three months. You can renew your coverage for four months in total. So, if you get a policy that lasts three months, then you can buy one more month of coverage at the end of your plan.
Pros of short-term health insurance plans in Illinois
Cons of short-term health insurance plans in Illinois
Health insurance enrollment by income level in Illinois
More than half of people who get marketplace plans in IL make less than $30,120 per year.
These people are more likely to drop their coverage if rates go up or discounts get smaller, because they have less room in their budgets to handle changes.
Enrollment by income
Income | % of total enrollment |
|---|---|
| Less than $15,060 | 2% |
| $15,060 to $20,783 | 9% |
| $20,784 to $22,590 | 23% |
| $22,591 to $30,120 | 21% |
| $30,121 to $37,650 | 12% |
Enrollment in 2025 marketplace plans made during the 2024-2025 open enrollment period. Total may not be 100% due to rounding.
Frequently asked questions
Is $200 a month expensive for health insurance in Illinois?
Health insurance that costs $200 per month in Illinois is affordable. That's less than a third of the state average before discounts, called subsidies. On average, Silver plans cost $888 per month for a 40-year-old or $683 per month for a 21-year-old.
What is the average cost of health insurance in Illinois?
The average cost of a Silver medical insurance plan in Illinois is $888 per month for a 40-year-old. Your rate will vary depending on the plan level you choose, how many people you insure, your age, where you live, whether you smoke or use tobacco, and what company you pick.
How do I get health insurance quotes in Illinois?
To get health insurance in Illinois, you can apply through Get Covered Illinois, which is Illinois' new state health insurance marketplace. You can review and compare plans or create an account to apply online. During the application process, you'll learn whether you qualify for help with your monthly rate or cost-sharing subsidies.
What is the best health insurance in Illinois?
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois has the best cheap health insurance in the state because it has cheap rates and quality coverage. Silver plans start at $533 per month, and the company has a high rating of 4-out-of-5 stars from the marketplace.
Will Illinois have subsidies in 2026?
Illinois will probably have federal subsidies in 2026, but the exact type of discounts is still unclear. Congress is debating how to move forward with subsidies. Lawmakers might extend the current "enhanced" subsidies, let the discounts roll back to their pre-2021 format or restructure the subsidy program completely.
Methodology
Illinois health insurance rate data for 2026 is from Get Covered Illinois, the state's new health insurance marketplace. ValuePenguin used the state marketplace data to find average rates for different plan tiers, geographic locations and family sizes.
Rates
Rates are based on a 40-year-old with a Silver plan, unless otherwise noted. Rates for Bronze plans include regular and Expanded Bronze plans for 2024, 2025 and 2026, when the plans are available. Your costs and plan options will vary; plans aren't always available in all parts of a state or county.
Subsidies
Rates after subsidies are estimates for a 40-year-old with a Benchmark Silver plan and are based on how subsidies were structured before 2021. Prices are calculated using KFF's rates for full-price Benchmark plans, federal poverty levels (FPLs), IRS rules about premium tax credits and Congressional reports about expanded tax credits. The total cost in the state uses rates calculated by income, which are weighted using Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) data on the incomes of those who purchased plans during 2024-2025 open enrollment. The median was used for each income range. Unknown incomes were excluded from the calculations. Incomes of 100% of the federal poverty line and 500% of the federal poverty line were assumed for enrollees who earn less than 100% FPL and more than 500% FPL, respectively. Information about state subsidies, when available, was sourced from state marketplaces.
Ratings
ValuePenguin's experts rank companies based on cost, coverage options, customer satisfaction and unique value. Ratings are out of 100 possible points. ACA ratings show how the company performs in Illinois for medical care, member experience and plan administration. The 2026 plan quality data from CMS is based on data from the previous year. Ratings are not available for new plans or plans with low enrollment.
More sources
Enrollment trends, including plan selections by tier and enrollment by income, are from CMS data for the 2024-2025 open enrollment period.
Other sources include KFF, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), the Peterson-KFF Health System Tracker and S&P Global Capital IQ.
Insurance Writer
Cate Deventer is a ValuePenguin writer who specializes in health insurance, Medicare, auto and home insurance. She's been a licensed insurance agent since 2011.
She started her insurance career working as a customer service agent for State Farm. She later moved to an independent agency, where she worked with several insurance companies and hundreds of clients. She quoted policies, filed claims and answered insurance questions. In 2021, she pivoted her career and began writing about insurance for Bankrate. She moved to ValuePenguin in 2023 and began writing about health insurance and Medicare.
Cate has a passion for helping readers choose insurance to fit their needs. She enjoys knowing that her research and knowledge help people choose insurance products that make a positive difference in their lives.
How insurance helped Cate
Cate used her health insurance knowledge to navigate a surgery in 2023. Understanding how her policy worked let her focus on recovery instead of worrying about bills.
Expertise
- Health insurance
- Medicare & Medicaid
- Auto insurance
- Home insurance
- Life insurance
Credentials
- Licensed Life, Accident & Health Insurance Agent
- Licensed Property & Casualty Insurance Agent
Referenced by
- CBS
- NBC
- Wall Street Journal
Education
- BA, Theatre, Purdue University
- BA, English, Indiana University
Editorial note: The content of this article is based on the author's opinions and recommendations alone. It has not been previewed, commissioned or otherwise endorsed by any of our network partners.
