Get Covered Illinois 2027: 3 things that still catch people off guard

Do you buy your own health insurance in Illinois, or are you already on a marketplace plan? Three things still catch people off guard before they enroll for 2027, and one of them shows up for the first time this tax season.

Before you enroll for 2027

Here is the first one. Since last year, Illinois runs its own marketplace, Get Covered Illinois, and HealthCare.gov no longer enrolls Illinois residents. If your plan simply renewed and you haven’t logged in since the switch, your account is waiting to be claimed. Go to getcovered.illinois.gov and use the access code from your letter or your Social Security number.

Tax credits that lower your premium are available for household incomes from 100% to 400% of the poverty level. For 2027 coverage, these are the yearly amounts, from the 2026 federal poverty guidelines:

Depending on your income, you are expected to pay 2.15% to 10.22% of it toward a benchmark plan, and the credit covers the rest of that plan’s price. The extra credits of 2021 through 2025 ended last year, and 2027 credits follow the same basic rules as 2026.

Your credit is based on the income you expect for the year and is settled on your tax return, so your estimate is worth getting right.

Key dates

• November 1, 2026: open enrollment starts
• December 15, 2026: pick a plan by this date for coverage starting January 1
• January 15, 2027: open enrollment ends; plans picked after December 15 start February 1

A preview of 2027 plans and prices is scheduled to open October 13. Last year Get Covered Illinois extended its deadlines, so watch its notices. After January 15, you need a qualifying life event, such as losing other coverage or a new baby.

Things most people miss

Automatic renewal can drop your tax credit, or your insurer

Get Covered Illinois renews many plans for you, but your tax credit renews only if you agreed to let it check your income with the IRS. Without that consent, your plan renews at full price.

New for 2027: Cigna and Molina plans leave Get Covered Illinois on January 1, 2027. If you have one, keep paying through December, then choose a new plan during open enrollment.

This tax season, extra credit is paid back in full

Until now, repayment of extra credit had a limit for households under 400% of the poverty level. That limit is gone starting with your 2026 return, the one you file in 2027. A raise or a side business last year can mean the whole difference comes due when you file. For 2027, updating your income within 30 days of a change keeps your credit on track.

When to call us

Call us before you pick a plan, and again when your income changes. Your health plan and your tax return are tied together through the credit, and our Chicago office handles both.

As a certified Get Covered Illinois broker, our office helps you:

• Coverage: compare plans, check your doctors and prescriptions, and enroll
• Income estimate: build it from your actual tax return, then update it when life changes
• Tax time: match your health coverage paperwork to your tax return before you file
• Paperwork: we handle the paperwork

Self-employed, turning 65, or a household with mixed coverage? Those are special situations, and we sort them out with you.

Help from certified brokers is free to you.

Start with a health insurance quote, or see our health insurance and tax preparation services. Let’s get you covered.

Call Ozfield 773-536-9272.

A common question

I’m turning 65. What happens? Once your Medicare coverage starts, the marketplace credit ends, so end your Get Covered Illinois plan when Medicare begins.

This article is general educational information based on Get Covered Illinois, Illinois Department of Insurance and IRS guidance as of October 1, 2026. Income figures: 2026 HHS poverty guidelines for the 48 states and D.C. (HealthCare.gov), used for 2027 coverage. Dates and rules can change. Insurers are named for information only, not as an endorsement. For advice on your own situation, talk with our office.