Illinois
Cheapest ACA plans in Chicago, Illinois for 2026
Plan year 2026, last refreshed 2026-04-19T08:08:55.462Z.
Chicago is in Cook County, Illinois. 5 carriers sell 2026 ACA plans on Get Covered Illinois for residents of Cook County, and the cheapest Bronze plan a 40-year-old can enroll in starts at $373/month before any subsidy. Carriers are licensed and rated at the county level, so the plans below cover everyone in Cook County, including Chicago.
Cheapest plans by metal tier
Lowest 2026 monthly premium for a single 40-year-old in Chicago (Cook County), on-exchange, before any subsidy. Per-age figures derived from the CMS QHP Landscape file using the HHS standardized age-rating curve (45 CFR 147.102).
| Tier | Cheapest age 40 monthly | Plans in Cook County |
|---|---|---|
| Bronze | $373 | 4 |
| Expanded Bronze | $375 | 16 |
| Catastrophic | $383 | 2 |
| Gold | $444 | 26 |
| Silver | $497 | 30 |
The actual cheapest Bronze plan in Chicago
Oscar Health Plan, Inc. Bronze Simple (Select)
$373/moFor a family of four (two 40-year-olds and two kids under 14): Oscar Health Plan, Inc. Bronze Simple (Select) at $1,193/month before subsidies.
Carriers selling 2026 plans in Chicago
5 carriers sell 2026 plans on Get Covered Illinois for Cook County residents; 1 additional carrier offers off-exchange-only plans (not subsidy-eligible). 89 plans total in Cook County.
| Carrier | On-exchange plans |
|---|---|
| Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois | 31 |
| UnitedHealthcare of Illinois, Inc. | 16 |
| Oscar | 13 |
| Ambetter | 11 |
| Molina Healthcare of Illinois, Inc | 7 |
Also selling off-exchange only
These carriers sell plans directly (not through Get Covered Illinois). Off-exchange plans are not eligible for federal APTC or state subsidies.
| Carrier | Off-exchange plans |
|---|---|
| Cigna HealthCare of Illinois, Inc. | 4 |
What you'll actually pay in Chicago
Estimated monthly net premium for the cheapest Bronze plan above ($373/mo before subsidy) on Get Covered Illinois, after federal APTC. APTC is computed against the Cook Countybenchmark Silver per 26 USC §36B. Approximate; exact net varies by plan's EHB% and child-rate structure.
Single 40-year-old
| Annual income | FPL % | Federal APTC | Cheapest Bronze net |
|---|---|---|---|
| $25,000 | 160% | $408/mo | $0/mo |
| $40,000 | 256% | $218/mo | $155/mo |
| $60,000 | 383% | $7/mo | $366/mo |
| $100,000 | 639% | — | $373/mo |
Family of 4 (two 40-year-olds, two children)
| Annual income | FPL % | Federal APTC | Cheapest Bronze net |
|---|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | 124% | — | Medicaid likely |
| $80,000 | 249% | $1,055/mo | $138/mo |
| $130,000 | 404% | — | $1,193/mo |
| $200,000 | 622% | — | $1,193/mo |
FPL = Federal Poverty Level. APTC = Advance Premium Tax Credit (the federal subsidy). Off-exchange and Catastrophic plans are not APTC-eligible. Enter your real income on the home page to see plan-specific net premium with the per-plan EHB-percent cap applied.
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest ACA plan in Chicago, Illinois for 2026?
The cheapest Bronze plan a 40-year-old can enroll in is Oscar Health Plan, Inc. Bronze Simple (Select) at $373 per month before subsidies. Plans sell through Get Covered Illinois. Chicago is in Cook County, Illinois; carriers are licensed and rated at the county level. Data refreshed 2026-04-19T08:08:55.462Z.
Is Illinois on Healthcare.gov?
No. Illinois launched its own state-based exchange, Get Covered Illinois, for PY2026. Previously Illinois used Healthcare.gov as an SBE-FP, but enrollment now runs through the state platform at getcoveredillinois.gov.
Has Illinois expanded Medicaid?
Yes, effective January 1, 2014. Illinois was an early-adopter expansion state. Adults 19-64 with income up to 138% FPL qualify regardless of parental status or disability, administered by the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services. There is no coverage gap in Illinois.
When is Illinois Open Enrollment for 2026?
Get Covered Illinois Open Enrollment runs November 1, 2025 through January 15, 2026. Enroll by December 15 for a January 1 effective date; enrollments December 16 through January 15 take effect February 1. Special Enrollment is available year-round for qualifying life events.
More Illinois pricing
Sources
- Get Covered Illinois for SBE enrollment, OEP dates, and APTC application.
- Illinois Department of Insurance for rate review, carrier filings, and consumer guidance.
- Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services for Medicaid eligibility and expansion enrollment.
- KFF: Illinois State Health Facts for Medicaid expansion, enrollment, and benchmark premium context.
Plan year 2026, last refreshed 2026-04-19T08:08:55.462Z. Full pricing pipeline + regulatory references at methodology; ACA terminology in the glossary.