Illinois plans to swap federal healthcare marketplace for state-funded option

CHICAGO, Ill. (WTVO) — Illinois will replace the federal healthcare marketplace with a state-funded alternative, beginning November 1st.

Get Covered Illinois was launched in 2013 as a state-branded portal for residents to access Healthcare.gov, the online marketplace where they can purchase health insurance plans established by the Obama administration’s Affordable Care Act.

“Today marks a pivotal step towards bringing quality, affordable healthcare to all Illinoisans,” said Gov. JB Pritzker. “Operating a state-based marketplace will allow our state more flexibility to provide health insurance coverage that is tailored to the needs of our residents.”

In an op-ed published in the Chicago Tribune in March, Pritzker said up to a million residents of the state will lose health care coverage if funding for Medicaid is cut as part of the Trump administration’s efforts to reduce the size of federal spending.

States and the federal government jointly pay for Medicaid, which offers nearly free health care coverage for roughly 80 million poor and disabled Americans, including millions of children. It cost $880 billion to operate in 2023.

“At a time when the federal government is announcing healthcare cuts, Illinois is investing in building a marketplace that aims to increase access to health coverage for our residents,” said Illinois Department of Insurance Director Anne Gillespie.

Starting November 1st, all Illinois resident who were enrolled in Medicare or Medicaid through Healthcare.gov will be transitioned to Get Covered Illinois for their 2026 coverage.

Last year, Get Covered Illinois launched a $6.5 million grant to create a statewide navigator program to assist residents in enrolling in healthcare coverage.

Open enrollment runs November 1, 2025, through January 15, 2026.