Illinois ACA Marketplace Slashes Premium Hikes as State Launches Tax Time Enrollment Program
Illinois Health Insurance Marketplace Moves Thousands to Cheaper Plans
Illinois just announced a significant victory for health insurance affordability. The state's ACA marketplace, Get Covered Illinois, successfully moved 78,000 enrollees to cheaper plans and slashed what would have been an average premium hike.
The marketplace achieved this by steering enrollees away from low- and mid-tier plans into what appeared to be premium coverage but turned out to be their cheapest option. This innovative approach de-escalated a looming spike in premiums that would have burdened thousands of Illinois families.
How Illinois Reduced Health Insurance Costs
The strategy involved carefully matching enrollees with plans that offered the best value based on their specific health needs and income levels. By using data to identify where people could get the same coverage for less money, Get Covered Illinois dramatically reduced the average premium increase that would have otherwise occurred.
This approach comes at a critical time for Illinois health insurance. Eight out of 10 Illinois exchange enrollees were eligible for subsidies on 2026 plans, saving an average of $688 monthly with premium tax credits. As a result, the average after-subsidy monthly premium was only $142 for people who qualified for assistance.
New Tax Time Enrollment Program Expands Access
Illinois has now launched a new enrollment program designed to help uninsured residents sign up for health coverage as part of their annual tax filing process. The Tax Time Easy Enrollment program allows residents to check a box on line 42 of their IL-1040 tax return to indicate they need health insurance information.
When taxpayers check this box, the Illinois Department of Revenue shares basic household information with Get Covered Illinois. Filers then receive a notice outlining their projected eligibility for Marketplace plans, premium tax credits, or Medicaid.
Those eligible for Marketplace coverage have 60 days from the date of the notice to enroll. The program does not affect the tax return and does not require anyone to sign up at tax time. It simply makes the first step toward getting covered easier.
The tax filing deadline in Illinois is April 15. The Tax Time Easy Enrollment program launched in 2026 and is now available for Illinois residents filing their 2025 tax returns.
Special Enrollment for Pregnancy
The state has also recognized pregnancy as a qualifying life event, making it easier for Illinoisans to enroll in coverage when they need it most. This expansion of special enrollment periods aligns with the program's goal of connecting people to care at the right moment.
What Illinois Leaders Say
Morgan Winters, Director of Get Covered Illinois, explained the significance of this approach.
By embedding health insurance enrollment into the annual tax filing process, Illinois is making it easier than ever for residents to take the first step toward getting covered.
Illinois continues to expand access to coverage by aligning enrollment with the real-life moments when people need care. By recognizing pregnancy as a qualifying life event, we're making it easier for Illinoisans to enroll in coverage when they need it most.
The Broader Impact
The Tax Time Easy Enrollment program represents an innovative approach to expanding healthcare access in Illinois. By making the enrollment process more accessible and less intimidating, the state is reducing barriers that prevent uninsured residents from obtaining coverage.
This program works alongside other initiatives to make health insurance more affordable for Illinois residents. The success of the ACA marketplace in reducing premium hikes, combined with the new enrollment pathways, demonstrates Illinois commitment to expanding healthcare access while controlling costs.
With open enrollment ended for 2026 plans, the Tax Time Easy Enrollment program provides an important avenue for uninsured Illinoisans to obtain coverage before the deadline. Those who indicate a need for health coverage will have 60 days from notification to enroll in a Marketplace plan.