Best Cheap Health Insurance in Illinois (2024)
With rates as low as $379 per month, the Blue FocusCare Silver plan is the best cheap health insurance in Illinois.
Find Cheap Health Insurance Quotes in Illinois
The Blue FocusCare Silver plan is notably the cheapest in Chicago, where over 40% of Illinois' population lives. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois also has the cheapest Bronze plan in the state, and Aetna has the cheapest Gold plan.
Health insurance in Illinois costs an average of $633 per month, for a 40-year-old with a Silver plan.
The best health insurance company in Illinois is Blue Cross Blue Shield. It has good customer satisfaction and sells the cheapest Silver plan in IL. BCBS is also the most popular health insurance company in Illinois.
How much does health insurance cost in Illinois?
The average cost of health insurance in Illinois is $633 per month for a 40-year-old with a Silver plan. Your rate will vary based on the level of coverage you buy, how old you are, how many people you have on your plan, where you live and whether you smoke or use tobacco.
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How old you are is one of the most important parts of the health insurance rate you pay. A 60-year-old 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.
Most people in Illinois don't pay the full monthly price for health insurance from HealthCare.gov. Depending on your income, you may qualify for a discount on your monthly rate. This is called an Affordable Care Act subsidy, or an "Obamacare" subsidy, and it lowers how much you pay for health insurance each month.
Cheapest health insurance in Illinois
The best and most affordable health insurance plan in Illinois is the Blue FocusCare Silver from BCBS of IL. Silver plans are a good choice for most people because they have a good level of coverage and a moderate price.
If you go to the doctor often, a Gold or Platinum plan might be a better choice, even though it costs more each month. And if you are generally healthy, you may want to consider a Bronze plan, which is cheaper but gives you less health care coverage.
Tier | Cheapest plan | Monthly cost |
|---|---|---|
| Catastrophic | Oscar Secure | $318 |
| Bronze | BCBS of IL Blue FocusCare Bronze | $290 |
| Silver | BCBS of IL Blue FocusCare Silver | $379 |
| Gold | Aetna Gold S | $436 |
| Platinum | Health Alliance Elite Platinum | $840 |
Monthly costs are for a 40-year-old.
When you're shopping for health insurance in Illinois, try to match your plan's coverage to how much medical care you think you'll need in the coming year. For example, if you expect to have surgery or begin treatment for a serious condition, you might want to choose a higher-tier plan. Even though these plans cost more each month, they pay for more of your medical bills. That could save you money overall.
Finding your best health insurance coverage in Illinois
The best health insurance plan for you depends on how much health care you need and how much you can 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 and Platinum plans: Best for expensive medical needs
Gold and Platinum health insurance plans are best if you have a complex or chronic medical condition or otherwise need expensive health care or medications. These plans cost the most each month, but they let you pay the lowest amount out of pocket for your medical care. They usually have the lowest deductibles, coinsurance levels and copays.
Silver plans: Best for average medical needs
Silver health plans are a good choice for people who have modest medical needs. These plans have a good balance between coverage and affordable rates. A Silver plan has a lower monthly rate than a Gold plan but gives you more coverage than a Bronze plan.
With a Silver plan, you might also qualify for a discount on your deductible, coinsurance and copays. This is called a cost-sharing reduction, and it's only available on Silver plans. You qualify based on income. The lower your annual income, the lower your costs could be when you get medical care.
Bronze and Catastrophic plans: Best for low medical needs
Bronze and Catastrophic health insurance plans are the cheapest options in IL, but they offer the lowest level of coverage. This means you have to pay for more of your medical bills in the form of higher deductibles, coinsurance and copays.
And you can only qualify for a Catastrophic plan if you're under 30 years old or meet certain other requirements. You also can't get a premium tax credit to make Catastrophic plans cheaper. You should only consider a Bronze or Catastrophic plan if you have the finances to pay for expensive medical bills if you become seriously ill or injured.
Medicaid: Best if you have a low income
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 $20,000 as a single person or about $41,000 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 pregnant women 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 health 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.
Are health insurance rates going up in Illinois?
Health insurance has gotten more expensive in Illinois. Silver plans, which are the most popular option in the state, are 13% more expensive for 2024 compared to 2023. No matter what plan tier you buy, you'll likely pay more than you did last year.
Tier | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | Change (2023 to 2024) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bronze | $448 | $480 | $537 | 12% |
| Silver | $556 | $561 | $633 | 13% |
| Gold | $636 | $654 | $734 | 12% |
Monthly costs are for a 40-year-old.
Platinum plans weren't available in Illinois in 2022 or 2023.
Compare Health Insurance Quotes in Illinois
Remember to check to see if you are eligible for a subsidy on your monthly rate. You could significantly lower the monthly cost of your health insurance if you qualify.
Best cheap health insurance companies in Illinois
Blue Cross Blue Shield is the best health insurance company in Illinois.
BCBS has numerous plans to choose from to help you find the best coverage for your situation, including the cheapest Silver plan in the state. BCBS of IL has great customer satisfaction, too.
Aetna and UnitedHealthcare (UHC) are also good choices. Although BCBS has the cheapest Silver plan, Aetna and UnitedHealthcare have overall lower rates.
Best health insurance companies in Illinois
Company | Cost | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Aetna | $402 | |
| UHC | $490 | |
| BCBS of IL | $687 | |
| Cigna | $477 | |
| Oscar | $453 |
Average monthly cost for a 40-year-old buying a Silver plan in IL. Ratings are based on editor reviews of the company.
Quartz and Health Alliance have good ratings from HealthCare.gov, but they also tend to be expensive. However, it could still be worth it to get quotes from these companies. For example, although Health Alliance has a high average rate, it sells the cheapest Silver plan in about half of all Illinois counties.
Cheapest health insurance plan by Illinois county
The 5900 Elite Silver plan from Health Alliance is the cheapest Silver plan in 50 of Illinois' 102 counties. But more than 4 in 10 Illinois residents live in the Chicago area. The best cheap health insurance in Chicago is the Blue FocusCare Silver plan from BCBS of IL.
If you live in one of the areas around Chicago, consider getting a health insurance quote from Molina. The Silver 8 plan from Molina is the best cheap option in Aurora, Naperville and parts of Joliet.
County | Cheapest Silver plan | Monthly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Adams | BCBS of IL Blue Choice Preferred Silver 203 | $672 |
| Alexander | Health Alliance 5900 Elite Silver | $813 |
| Bond | BCBS of IL Blue Choice Preferred Silver 203 | $690 |
| Boone | MercyCare Silver Option A | $560 |
| Brown | BCBS of IL Blue Choice Preferred Silver 203 | $672 |
Cheapest Silver plan with rates for a 40-year-old
Average cost of health insurance by family size in Illinois
Adding a child to a Silver health insurance plan raises your rates by $379 per month, on average. But the coverage for a child costs the same amount each month until the child turns 14. After that, their rates increase each year as they age.
Adding an adult to your health insurance policy is more expensive, costing an average of $633 per month on a Silver plan.
Family size | Average monthly cost |
|---|---|
| Individual and child | $1,012 |
| Couple, age 40 | $1,266 |
| Family of three (adult couple and a child) | $1,645 |
| Family of four (adult couple and two children) | $2,024 |
| Family of five (adult couple and three children) | $2,403 |
Average cost of health insurance by plan type in Illinois
In Illinois, you can choose between three types of health insurance networks: HMOs, PPOs or 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 |
|---|---|
| HMO | $494 |
| PPO | $662 |
| POS | $735 |
Monthly costs are for a 40-year-old.
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 Health Alliance offers POS plans in Illinois.
Short-term health insurance in Illinois
If you need health insurance for a few months or less, a short-term health insurance plan could be a good option. Short-term plans in Illinois can't last longer than six months, and you can't continue the coverage once the plan ends. You can't buy a new short-term plan from the same company within 60 days of your previous short-term plan ending.
Short-term health insurance plans typically do not cover the same benefits as plans purchased from HealthCare.gov. You might not have coverage for prescription medications, maternity care or mental health care, for example. And if you have a preexisting condition, it probably won't be covered and you could be turned down for a policy.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average cost of health insurance in Illinois?
The average cost of a Silver health insurance plan in Illinois is $633 per month. Silver plans range in cost from $379 to $896 per month. 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 in Illinois?
To get health insurance in Illinois, you can apply through the federal health insurance exchange. You can review and compare plans or create an account to apply online. During the application process, you'll learn whether you qualify for premium assistance or cost-sharing subsidies.
What is the best health insurance in Illinois?
The best cheap health insurance in Illinois is the Blue FocusCare Silver plan from Blue Cross Blue Shield. It costs an average of $379 per month, which is 40% cheaper than the state average cost for a Silver plan. It's also the cheapest Silver plan in Chicago. If you live outside of Chicago, you might want to get a quote from Health Alliance, which has the cheapest Silver plan in almost half of the counties in Illinois.
Methodology
2024 health insurance rates and plans in Illinois came from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) government website. Using the public use files (PUFs), rates were averaged across a variety of factors such as plan tier, county and family size. Plans and providers for which county-level data was included in the CMS Crosswalk file were used in our analysis; those excluded from this data set may not appear. KFF provided the information about the most popular plan level in Illinois.
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.