According to MoneyGeek’s analysis, Ambetter offers the best health insurance plans in Illinois, combining affordability, customer service and solid coverage. If Ambetter isn’t available in your area, Aetna, Cigna, Health Alliance and Molina also provide strong alternatives.
Best Health Insurance in Illinois in 2025
Updated: November 3, 2025
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Key Takeaways
Overall, Ambetter offers the best and most balanced coverage in Illinois for health insurance.
Molina provides the best cheap health insurance in Illinois, with Silver-tier plans averaging $453 monthly, where available.
To find the best health insurance in Illinois, educate yourself on companies available to you, decide coverage needs beforehand and compare plan quotes from several companies.
Best Health Insurance Companies in Illinois
| Ambetter | $569 | $6,832 | $7,850 |
| Aetna | $705 | $8,464 | $8,810 |
| Aetna | $616 | $7,390 | $8,819 |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $589 | $7,072 | $9,328 |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $779 | $9,350 | $9,333 |
| Cigna | $508 | $6,101 | $9,217 |
| Health Alliance | $816 | $9,787 | $8,817 |
| Medica | $633 | $7,602 | $9,133 |
| MercyCare Health Plans | $593 | $7,112 | $8,950 |
| Molina | $453 | $5,434 | $8,563 |
| Oscar | $460 | $5,520 | $8,883 |
| Quartz | $699 | $8,385 | $9,300 |
| UnitedHealthcare | $577 | $6,920 | $9,333 |
*Our picks are the best companies for 40-year-olds looking for Silver-tier plans.
Best Illinois Health Insurance Company Reviews
To help you choose confidently, we’ve highlighted our top picks overall, along with the best options for affordability and customer service.
Ambetter: Best Overall
pros
An excellent denial score means smoother claims approval
Perfect MOOP score caps out-of-pocket costs low
Strong affordability at $569 monthly for Silver plans
My Health Pays rewards earn you up to $500 annually
cons
Customer service receives consistently poor reviews
Limited provider networks frustrate some members
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
Ambetter earned our pick for best overall health insurance in Illinois with Silver plans at $569 monthly and the state's best denial score of 4.8 out of 5, meaning your claims get approved faster with fewer hassles. The perfect MOOP score protects you from catastrophic bills better than most competitors.
Earn up to $500 annually through My Health Pays by completing health activities, then use those rewards toward premiums and copays. Free 24/7 telehealth lets you see doctors from home for flu, infections and minor issues.
The big drawback: customer reviews consistently report difficulty finding in-network providers and frustrating service experiences. Coverage is available in 25 Illinois counties, so verify your area before enrolling.
Molina: Best Cheap Overall
pros
Cheapest rates in Illinois at $453 monthly for 40-year-olds
Perfect affordability score and plan type score
Strong denial score beats most competitors
cons
Coverage limited to Cook, DuPage, Kane, Kendall and Will counties.
Not BBB accredited
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
Molina is our pick for Illinois' best affordable health insurance with rates starting at $453 monthly, earning a perfect affordability score of 5 out of 5. Coverage includes free unlimited 24/7 Teladoc virtual care services and $200 in My Health Perks rewards for completing wellness activities.
The strong MOOP score of 4.40 means you’ll have lower maximum out-of-pocket costs than competitors. NCQA-accredited quality care includes an asthma disease management program to control symptoms and prevent expensive emergency visits. Adult vision benefits through VSP are available on select plans, covering eye exams and frames.
Best Health Insurance in Illinois by Category
We’ve shared our overall top picks, but the best company for you depends on your profile and the type of plan you prefer. The next section highlights the top choices for common categories to help you find the most suitable coverage.
| Children | $341 | $4,090 |
| Teens | $407 | $4,881 |
| Young Adults | $456 | $5,475 |
| Adults | $569 | $6,832 |
| Seniors | $1,209 | $14,510 |
| People With Diabetes | $661 | $7,927 |
| Low-Income | $699 | $8,390 |
| People With Heart Disease | $569 | $6,832 |
| HMO | $569 | $6,832 |
| People With Asthma | $569 | $6,832 |
| Pregnant Women | $569 | $6,832 |
FACTORS THAT AFFECT YOUR HEALTH INSURANCE COSTS IN ILLINOIS
- Location makes a bigger difference than most people realize when shopping for Illinois health insurance. Chicago residents pay more than those in Rockford or Champaign and downstate areas usually offer the lowest rates.
- Age drives the steepest price increases; older adults pay far more than younger people for identical coverage.
- Tobacco users see surcharges added to their base premiums.
- You have real control over one major cost factor: picking a plan with lower monthly payments but higher deductibles or spending more upfront for better protection when you actually need care.
How to Find the Best Health Insurance for You in Illinois
These recommendations make buying health insurance easier and help you find a plan that fits your needs.
Decide on Your Coverage Needs Before Buying
When looking for the best health insurance, weigh the monthly cost against the maximum out-of-pocket limits for plans. If you go to the doctor often, a plan with a higher monthly fee but lower MOOP can save you money. But you may not need as much coverage if you're not high risk. Also, compare health insurance plan types to ensure how flexible a provider will be in covering you.
Compare Company Offerings and Reputations
Before comparing rates, understand what plans the top companies in your area offer and their terms. Also, look into company reputations through forums and industry sources like J.D. Power to ensure a smooth buying and coverage claims process.
Shop Around
Comparing multiple plans from many providers ensures you get the best possible deal. We found that rates can start at $453 monthly in Illinois, depending on your profile and chosen plan type. Open Enrollment lasts from November 1 to January 15, but you may also qualify for Special Enrollment if you've lost your job, divorced or had a child.
Take Advantage of Federal Programs and Subsidies
Those with low income, have a qualifying disability or illness, or are 65 years old or older can receive subsidies or be eligible for Medicare plans. In some cases, depending on your details, you can have up to 100% of your premiums covered if you're low-income or have huge savings if you're eligible for Medicare.
MoneyGeek also provides information for finding the top Illinois Medicare Supplement and best Medicare Advantage plans in Illinois if you want to learn more.
Best Health Insurance in Illinois: Bottom Line
Overall, our top three picks for Illinois health insurance are Ambetter, Molina and Oscar. However, the best possible health insurance plan for you will vary widely depending on your personal details and coverage needs. Compare as many plans and companies as possible to get the right fit.
Best Illinois Health Insurance: FAQ
These FAQs cover what you need to know about choosing the best health insurance in Illinois:
What is the best health insurance provider in Illinois for 2025?
Ambetter provides the best health insurance in Illinois for 2025. However, your best choice will depend on your unique circumstances and needs and if coverage is available in your county.
What should you look for when shopping for the best health insurance plan in Illinois?
When finding the best health insurance plan, compare both premium costs and coverage breadth to ensure the plan meets your specific medical needs without gaps in essential services. The ideal plan balances affordability with comprehensive coverage that aligns with your health requirements and anticipated medical expenses.
How We Chose the Best Health Insurance in Illinois
To rank health care insurance providers in Illinois, MoneyGeek researched premiums, out-of-pocket costs, claims denial rates and plan types for each available company and compared them across different categories. We then weighted each category to calculate an overall MoneyGeek score and derive rankings.
We weighted most categories as follows:
- Maximum out-of-pocket (MOOP) score (30%): The MOOP is the most you'll pay per year for health care costs outside of your monthly premiums. The provider with the lowest average MOOP scores the highest.
- Claims denial score (30%): How often a provider denies claims. The provider with the lowest claims denial rate scores the highest.
- Rate score (20%): How much the provider's monthly plans cost. The cheapest provider, on average, gets the highest score.
- Plan type score (20%): Providers score better if they have plan types with broader coverage. A provider with many PPO plans will get the highest score.
In some cases, we adjusted the weightings as follows:
- For the categories "Best Cheap Health Insurance in Illinois" and "Best Health Insurance in Illinois for Low Income," we increased the rate score weighting to 50%. We decreased every other category by 10%.
- For the category "Best Health Insurance by Plan Type in Illinois," we decreased the plan type score weighting to 0% to reflect that we are comparing providers' plans like-for-like. We increased MOOP and claims denial score weightings by 10% each.
Sample Consumer:
MoneyGeek collected data on all available plans in Illinois for consumers aged 18, 26, 40, 50 and 60. Unless otherwise noted, all monthly premiums are for a 40-year-old buyer, such as the category for young adults. Plans analyzed in each section include the relevant cited metal tiers, which include Catastrophic, Bronze, Expanded Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum.
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About Mark Fitzpatrick
Mark Fitzpatrick, a Licensed Property and Casualty Insurance Producer, is MoneyGeek's resident Personal Finance Expert. With over five years of experience analyzing the insurance market, he conducts original research and creates tailored content for all types of buyers. His insights have been featured in publications like CNBC, NBC News and Mashable.
Fitzpatrick holds a master’s degree in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He's also a five-time Jeopardy champion!
He writes about economics and insurance, breaking down complex topics so people know what they're buying.