Private Health Plans for the Self-Employed in Illinois

I am an independent, licensed health insurance broker, and I am licensed in Illinois. If you are self-employed, a 1099 contractor, or a freelancer, this page covers what exists outside the Marketplace in Illinois — which is a genuinely shorter list than in most states, and it is better to know that up front than to find out after three weeks of searching. There is no fee for my help. The insurance company pays the broker, not you.

Short-term health plans are not sold in Illinois.

Start here: short-term plans are not sold in Illinois

If you have read that self-employed people can buy a cheap medically underwritten short-term plan, that advice does not travel to Illinois. State law here does not allow them to be sold, so no carrier offers one. Anyone marketing you something that sounds dramatically cheaper and simpler than an ACA plan is almost certainly selling you something that is not insurance. Read the options below before you sign anything.

Illinois at a glance for the self-employed

Illinois now runs its own exchange. Since November 1, 2025, Illinois residents shop on Get Covered Illinois, not HealthCare.gov. Seven carriers sold plans for 2026, and five remain for 2027 after Cigna and Molina leave. About 449,000 people enrolled for 2026.

• 2027 rates. Carriers proposed an average increase of about 14% for 2027, from about 9% at Ambetter to about 15% at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois. The state has had authority to review rates since 2023.
• No short-term plans. Illinois banned short-term health plans in 2024, so the private route here means medically underwritten options that meet state rules.
• Pregnancy is a qualifying event. In Illinois, pregnancy opens a special enrollment period, which is useful for self-employed couples starting a family.
• Medicaid expanded. Adults up to 138% of the poverty level can qualify.

The 400% line matters more here than most people expect. For 2027 the credit stops above $63,840 for one person and $132,000 for a family of four, and there is no phase-out. See the full 2027 income limits.

Your private options in Illinois

• No short-term plans. Illinois banned short-term health plans in 2024, so the comparison is between exchange plans, off-exchange plans and other options I can walk you through.
• Medically underwritten private plans. Health questions up front, often lower premiums for healthy applicants, broad PPO networks, and applications accepted any month.
• Supplemental coverage. Accident, critical-illness and hospital plans can soften a high deductible. How it works.

When private is the right call in Illinois, and when it is not

With five carriers on Get Covered Illinois for 2027 and proposed 2027 increases averaging about 14%, a healthy Illinois freelancer or business owner over the subsidy line often saves real money with a private plan.

Stay with Get Covered Illinois if you have an ongoing condition, are pregnant or planning to be, take expensive prescriptions, or qualify for a meaningful tax credit. If that is you, I will say so.

The tax piece

Most self-employed people can deduct their health insurance premiums, which also lowers the income that counts toward a subsidy. How it works for 1099 workers.

Illinois questions I hear a lot

Do Illinois residents use HealthCare.gov?

Not anymore. Since November 1, 2025, Illinois runs its own exchange, Get Covered Illinois.

Can I buy a short-term health plan in Illinois?

No. Illinois banned short-term health plans in 2024.

Which carriers are leaving Get Covered Illinois for 2027?

Cigna and Molina are leaving, which takes Illinois from seven carriers to five.

What if I earn more than 400% of the poverty level in Illinois?

You pay the full price on Get Covered Illinois. I compare that with private medically underwritten options at no cost.

Posey Health Solutions · National Producer Number 20609967 · licensed in Illinois and 30 other states. This page is general information, not advice about a specific plan, and it is not tax advice. Plan availability, carrier participation, and duration limits vary by county, carrier, and plan year, and the rules can change.