Key takeaway: Illinois marketplace health insurance rates for 2027 rise 14.1% on average before subsidies, open enrollment on Get Covered Illinois runs November 1, 2026 to January 15, 2027, and the average benchmark silver plan for a 40-year-old in Illinois was $646 a month in 2026.
If you buy your own health insurance in Chicago, you buy it through Get Covered Illinois, the state-run marketplace since the 2026 plan year (healthinsurance.org). Here’s what plans cost and what’s changing for 2027.
Key dates for 2027 coverage
- Open enrollment: November 1, 2026 to January 15, 2027 (Illinois Department of Insurance).
- Shop and enroll at Get Covered Illinois.
Benchmark premiums
| Year | Illinois benchmark silver, age 40 | US average |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $474 a month | $497 a month |
| 2026 | $646 a month | $625 a month |
Source: KFF, marketplace average benchmark premiums. These are full prices before any tax credit. KFF has not yet published 2027 figures, and county-level figures for Cook County weren’t available from KFF.
2027 rate changes by insurer
| Insurer | Average 2027 change |
|---|---|
| Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois | 14.9% |
| Oscar | 12.7% |
| UnitedHealthcare | 12.4% |
| MercyCare | 12.2% |
| Ambetter | 9.2% |
Source: healthinsurance.org. The Illinois Department of Insurance put the weighted average increase at 14.1%, down from 28.8% the year before, and notes that posted rates aren’t what most people pay after subsidies (Illinois Department of Insurance). Cigna and Molina are leaving the Illinois individual market for 2027, so their members need to pick a new plan during open enrollment (ACASignups; healthinsurance.org).
Tax credits
The enhanced premium tax credits that lowered marketplace prices from 2021 through 2025 expired at the end of 2025 and have not been renewed by Congress (KFF). The original Affordable Care Act tax credits still apply, so many people pay well below the benchmark price. Get Covered Illinois estimated that the end of the enhanced credits would raise average monthly premiums 78% for Illinois enrollees in 2026 (Get Covered Illinois). Enter your income on Get Covered Illinois to see your own price after credits.
For how health costs fit with the rest of a Chicago budget, see how much you need to make to live in Chicago.