Republican president Abraham Lincoln hailed from Illinois, but these days, the state’s votes typically go to Democratic candidates. Chicago-area voters are particularly likely to support Democrats. Downstate voters often lean toward Republican candidates, but Chicago’s influence carries the state. Illinois stood behind former President Obama’s Affordable Care Act and was one of the first states to expand Medicaid according to ACA guidelines.
Enrollment through the Years
Illinois residents who enroll in Obamacare plans do so through the federal marketplace. Over the last three signup seasons, enrollment in Illinois has increased slightly overall. Even still, 2017 enrollment numbers are lower than in 2016, which was Illinois’s peak year.
- 349,487 Illinoisans enrolled in 2015
- 388,179 Illinoisans enrolled in 2016
- 356,403 Illinoisans enrolled in 2017
In 2017, there were 116,101 people in Illinois who enrolled in a marketplace plan for the first time. The other 240,302 enrollees were people who had also signed up for a marketplace plan in past years. Many Illinois enrollees are older. The age demographic that makes up the largest portion of Illinois marketplace participation is the 55-64 bracket.
In accordance with ACA guidelines, Illinois chose to expand Medicaid to non-elderly adults who earn up to 138 percent of the federal poverty limit. Over 690,000 Illinoisans have enrolled in Medicaid under the expansion.
Cost Assistance
People earning between 100 and 400 percent of the federal poverty limit are often eligible for cost assistance when they enroll in a marketplace plan. 79 percent of Illinois enrollees received cost assistance through federal subsidies in 2017. These subsidies reduced their premium payments.
Enrollees who earn under 250 percent of the federal poverty limit are also eligible for cost-sharing reductions (CSRs) when they enroll in a silver-level marketplace plan. In 2017, 47 percent of Illinois enrollees received CSRs.
Carrier Participation & Plan Availability
Two carriers have agreed to offer marketplace health plans in Illinois in 2018. This is down from four carriers in 2017. The total number of marketplace health plans offered in Illinois in 2017 was 1,307. This does not mean that all state residents had 1,307 plan options from which to choose; the plans that are offered vary from county to county.
