In a move aimed at easing the pressure on consumers, Illinois residents now have a bit more breathing room to select their health insurance plans. The deadline for choosing a plan through the state’s marketplace, Get Covered Illinois, has been extended by 16 days. This means that those seeking coverage effective from February 1, 2026, must enroll by January 31.

Unlike the federal marketplace, Healthcare.gov, Get Covered Illinois is tailored specifically for Illinoisans, allowing them to navigate their options under the Affordable Care Act with more localized support and resources. This extension comes as a significant relief in the wake of federal changes affecting health insurance costs.

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Morgan Winters, the director of Get Covered Illinois, highlighted the benefits of this extension. “We are witnessing a record number of customers who are finding more affordable coverage as they take the time to shop and compare plans,” Winters stated. “Our status as a state-based marketplace gives us the unique authority to implement this special enrollment period, and we are equipped to help our customers find the most cost-effective health coverage options.”

This adjustment in enrollment time comes against the backdrop of federal subsidies, which were initially introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic, having expired at the end of 2025. The termination of these subsidies has led to a notable increase in premiums for millions of consumers across the country as they navigate the insurance landscape in 2026.

Federal subsidies enacted during the COVID-19 pandemic expired on Dec. 31, 2025. That has resulted in significantly higher premiums in 2026 for millions of consumers nationwide.

Data released by the federal government suggests that premium payments may more than double without the subsidies, according to analysis conducted by healthcare policy nonprofit KFF.

The U.S. House passed a bill with bipartisan support in January that would provide a three-year subsidy extension despite objections from GOP leaders, but it still must pass the Senate and receive a signature from the president to become law.

To apply for a plan, Illinois residents can visit GetCoveredIllinois.gov or call the Customer Assistance Center at 1-866-311-1119 (TTY: 711).

Navigators and brokers across the state, available through Get Covered Illinois, provide free plan recommendations and guidance through the enrollment and application process. They are funded by grants from the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services and the Department of Insurance.

Capitol News Illinois is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news service that distributes state government coverage to hundreds of news outlets statewide. It is funded primarily by the Illinois Press Foundation and the Robert R. McCormick Foundation.