Freelancers, contractors, gig workers and small-business owners — coverage that isn't tied to an employer, and may be tax-deductible.
Not a government marketplace. Health Enrollment Center is operated by Sprinter Insurance Agency LLC.
Illinois expanded Medicaid in 2014, so lower-income residents often qualify for no-cost coverage, while everyone above that line enrolls in marketplace plans where roughly 90% receive a premium tax credit. As of the 2026 plan year Illinois runs its own marketplace, Get Covered Illinois, at getcovered.illinois.gov — it replaced HealthCare.gov for Illinois residents, and existing HealthCare.gov accounts were migrated over. The metal tiers, essential health benefits and premium tax credits did not change; the enrollment front door did.
When you work for yourself, nobody hands you a benefits package. The good news: as a self-employed person your income is what determines your ACA premium tax credit, and self-employed people often have more control over their Modified Adjusted Gross Income than W-2 employees do. Structuring income and deductions well can meaningfully lower what you pay for a marketplace plan.
Self-employed health insurance premiums are frequently deductible above the line on your federal return (the self-employed health insurance deduction), which effectively discounts your coverage again at tax time. Pairing an HSA-eligible high-deductible plan with an HSA is a common strategy for 1099 earners who want to shelter income and build a medical nest egg.
We help Illinois freelancers and business owners compare marketplace plans (with subsidies) against private off-marketplace plans side by side, so you can weigh network breadth against price without guessing.
Illinois runs its own exchange, Get Covered Illinois, rather than using HealthCare.gov. That matters more than it sounds: state-based exchanges set their own Open Enrollment dates, can recognize special enrollment situations the federal marketplace does not, and sometimes administer state-only programs that have no federal equivalent. Check the Get Covered Illinois calendar rather than assuming the federal dates apply to you. Illinois runs its own state-based marketplace, Get Covered Illinois, which replaced HealthCare.gov for Illinois residents starting with the 2026 plan year. The plans and premium tax credits are the same — only the enrollment site changed.
If your 1099 income puts you above roughly 138% of the federal poverty level, Illinois's Medicaid expansion isn't your lane — the premium tax credit is, and self-employed people have more control over the Modified Adjusted Gross Income that sets it than almost anyone. The one thing to watch is the floor: estimate a year low enough and the marketplace will route you to Medicaid instead of a subsidized plan, so estimate honestly and update it when the year comes in stronger. Illinois expanded Medicaid in 2014, so lower-income adults may qualify for no-cost coverage. Above that threshold, marketplace premium tax credits take over — we'll help you find where you land.
The carriers writing individual business in Illinois include Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois, Aetna CVS Health, Ambetter from Meridian, UnitedHealthcare, Cigna and others. Networks and pricing are set county by county rather than statewide, so the same carrier can be the best value in one metro and the wrong choice an hour away. We quote Chicago, Aurora, Rockford and Peoria — and every county in between.
Don't see yours? Call a licensed agent — most answers take under two minutes.
It depends on your income and who needs coverage, but for most self-employed residents of Illinois a subsidized ACA marketplace plan is the strongest option — it's guaranteed-issue, covers pre-existing conditions, and the premium tax credit is income-based. We compare it against private plans so you see the full picture.
Through Get Covered Illinois, the exchange Illinois runs itself — not HealthCare.gov. A licensed agent can enroll you in the same plans at the same price. Because Illinois sets its own calendar, check the Open Enrollment dates against Get Covered Illinois rather than assuming the federal ones apply to you.
The carriers writing individual business in Illinois include Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois, Aetna CVS Health, Ambetter from Meridian, UnitedHealthcare, Cigna and others. Which of them is actually competitive depends on your county rather than the state — the lineup and the networks in Chicago are not the lineup in Peoria. We are independent and compare across all of them rather than steering you to one company.
Start with your ZIP. Two quick questions, then a licensed agent brings you the plans you actually qualify for — no cost, no obligation.