Ambetter ranks first among Illinois health insurance companies for its combination of premiums, deductibles and out-of-pocket limits. Molina Healthcare, Oscar Health, UnitedHealthcare, Cigna, MercyCare and Blue Cross Blue Shield also compete with varying cost structures and network options. The table below shows each provider's key metrics and highest-rated plan by MoneyGeek score.
Best Health Insurance in Illinois (2026)
Updated: June 9, 2026
Advertising & Editorial Disclosure
Key Takeaways
Ambetter is the best health insurance provider in Illinois. It balances affordable premiums, manageable deductibles and low maximum out-of-pocket limits.
Molina Healthcare offers the cheapest health insurance in Illinois, but its deductibles are higher than other providers.
When shopping for health insurance in Illinois, check monthly premiums, deductibles, provider networks and out-of-pocket maximums. Plans with lower upfront costs usually have higher cost-sharing or smaller networks. Request quotes from multiple companies.
Best Health Insurance Companies in Illinois
| Ambetter | $705 | $8,320 | $6,320 | 4.1 | Clear Silver |
| Molina Healthcare | $509 | $9,255 | $6,250 | 4.1 | Molina Silver Saver 70 with Four Free PCP or MH Visits |
| Oscar Health Plan, Inc. | $601 | $9,400 | $4,672 | 4.1 | Silver Elite Saver Plus Rx Copay (Select) |
| UnitedHealthcare of Illinois, Inc. | $776 | $9,833 | $2,833 | 4 | UHC Silver Copay Focus (No Referrals) |
| Cigna HealthCare of IL, Inc. | $620 | $9,300 | $5,233 | 4 | Connect Silver CMS Standard |
| MercyCare HMO, Inc. | $669 | $9,450 | $4,250 | 4 | MercyCare Silver Health Savings |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $725 | $9,208 | $5,385 | 3.8 | Blue Precision Silver HMO 704 |
*Our picks are the best health insurance options for 40-year-olds looking for Silver-tier HMO plans.
Ambetter
MoneyGeek Rating
4.1/ 5
4.2/5Affordability
3/5Deductible
5/5MOOP
Average Monthly Rate
$705Average MOOP
$8,320Average Deductible
$6,320
Molina Healthcare
MoneyGeek Rating
4.1/ 5
5/5Affordability
2.5/5Deductible
3.1/5MOOP
Average Monthly Rate
$509Average MOOP
$9,255Average Deductible
$6,250
Oscar
MoneyGeek Rating
4.1/ 5
4.6/5Affordability
3.7/5Deductible
2.8/5MOOP
Average Monthly Rate
$601Average MOOP
$9,400Average Deductible
$4,672
Best Health Insurance in Illinois by Category
Health insurance costs in Illinois change based on age, plan type and metal tier. Silver plans range from $363 to $2,289 monthly across different demographics. We compared premiums, deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums for top insurers by age group and plan type. This shows which providers offer the best value for HMO, POS and PPO coverage at each life stage.
By Age:
- Teens (18):
- Young adults (26): Molina HMO $408; Ambetter HMO $565; BCBS POS $470; BCBS PPO $864
- Adults (40): It costs $509 with Molina HMO; costs with Ambetter HMO are $705; BCBS POS costs $587; BCBS PPO costs $1,078
- Seniors (60): Charges are as follows: Molina HMO $1,080; BCBS POS $1,247; BCBS PPO $2,289; Ambetter HMO $1,500;
Plan Type:
- PPO: Blue Cross Blue Shield is Illinois's only PPO insurer. It charges $1,078 monthly for 40-year-olds, with a $3,933 deductible and $9,883 MOOP.
- HMO: Ambetter is the top provider for this plan, with 40-year-olds being charged $705 monthly, with a $6,320 deductible and $8,320 MOOP.
- POS: Blue Cross Blue Shield costs 40-year-olds $587 monthly. This plan carries a $4,667 deductible and a $9,000 MOOP.
Compare Illinois Health Insurance Providers
Health insurance costs vary depending on the provider. Monthly premiums, deductibles and maximum out-of-pocket limits differ based on the insurer.
Data filtered by:
HMO
Silver
40
No
| Ambetter | $705 | HMO | Silver | $8,320 | $6,320 | 40 | No |
| Molina Healthcare | $509 | HMO | Silver | $9,255 | $6,250 | 40 | No |
| Oscar Health Plan, Inc. | $601 | HMO | Silver | $9,400 | $4,672 | 40 | No |
| UnitedHealthcare of Illinois, Inc. | $776 | HMO | Silver | $9,833 | $2,833 | 40 | No |
| Cigna HealthCare of IL, Inc. | $620 | HMO | Silver | $9,300 | $5,233 | 40 | No |
| MercyCare HMO, Inc. | $669 | HMO | Silver | $9,450 | $4,250 | 40 | No |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $725 | HMO | Silver | $9,208 | $5,385 | 40 | No |
How to Choose the Best Health Insurance in Illinois
Choosing health insurance in Illinois means weighing premiums against deductibles, network access and coverage limits.
- 1Assess your health care needs
Review your medications, planned procedures and how often you visit the doctor before choosing a coverage level.
- 2Compare multiple insurer quotes
Compare rates from at least three insurers. Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna and Humana price coverage differently. Small business owners should expect about 15% to 30% variation in rates between providers.
- 3Verify provider networks
Check that your physicians and hospitals accept the plans you're comparing. Out-of-network care costs more and you often pay up front.
- 4Review cost-sharing details
Higher deductibles reduce monthly premiums but increase costs at the point of care. Illinois plans range from $1,000 to $8,000 in deductibles, with corresponding premium differences.
- 5Evaluate plan types
HMOs, PPOs, EPOs and POS plans differ in cost and provider flexibility. HMOs have the lowest premiums but require referrals for specialist visits. PPOs allow direct specialist access without prior approval at higher premiums. EPOs and POS plans sit between the two, with moderate premiums and defined provider restrictions.
- 6Explore federal programs
Illinois residents with low income, a qualifying disability or age 65 and older may be eligible for subsidies or Medicare. Explore Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement plans to compare coverage and costs.
How Much Does Health Insurance Cost in Illinois?
POS plans are cheapest across all metal tiers in Illinois. Bronze POS plans average $389 monthly, Silver costs $587 and Gold costs $476. HMO plans cost more: Bronze at $496, Silver at $702 and Gold at $618 monthly.
PPO plans cost the most: Bronze at $679, Silver at $1,078 and Gold at $827 monthly. PPO plans have broader networks than HMO or POS options. Choose PPO if you want flexibility in choosing providers.
| HMO | $496 | $702 | $618 |
| POS | $389 | $587 | $476 |
| PPO | $679 | $1,078 | $827 |
*Rates are averages for 40-year-olds in Illinois. Your rates will vary based on your age and location.
Best Health Insurance in Illinois: Bottom Line
Ambetter, Molina Healthcare and Oscar are the top-rated health insurance providers in Illinois for 2026, per MoneyGeek's analysis. Oscar offers the strongest balance of affordable premiums and coverage breadth. Molina Healthcare has the lowest monthly rates but higher out-of-pocket costs.
Best Illinois Health Insurance: FAQ
Illinois residents often ask common questions about enrollment periods, state insurance requirements and how multiple plans work together.
How do I get health insurance in Illinois?
Illinois residents can purchase health insurance through GetCovered Illinois, the state's official marketplace, directly from insurers or through a licensed broker. Open enrollment runs from November 1 through January 15 each year. Special enrollment periods are available after qualifying life events such as marriage, job loss or relocation. Employer-sponsored group health plans are also widely available.
Are you required to have health insurance in Illinois?
Illinois doesn't require health insurance coverage, so you won't face any penalties for going without it, but being uninsured means you'll pay the full price for medical care out of pocket. A simple doctor visit or prescription can cost hundreds, while emergency treatment may reach thousands of dollars.
Can you have multiple health insurance plans in Illinois?
Illinois residents can carry multiple health insurance plans. Through coordination of benefits, the primary plan pays first and the secondary plan may cover remaining eligible expenses. This applies most commonly when both spouses have employer-provided coverage or when combining Medicare with supplemental insurance.
Our Review Methodology
Our Illinois health insurance ranking system focuses on cost factors that matter most to consumers. Monthly premiums carry the heaviest weight since they represent your biggest ongoing expense. We also factor in deductibles and maximum out-of-pocket costs.
Our Scoring System
We weighted three cost factors:
- Monthly premium (60%): The recurring monthly payment has the greatest impact on affordability. Lower premiums earn higher scores.
- Maximum out-of-pocket (20%): Caps total annual spending beyond premiums. Lower limits score better.
- Deductible (20%): The amount paid before coverage starts. Lower deductibles receive higher scores.
Scores are normalized for each filter combination, where the top provider gets 5 points and all other providers are scored relative to that leader.
Sample Consumer Profile
We reviewed every 2026 Illinois plan for ages 18, 26, 40, 50 and 60. Pricing shows 40-year-old rates unless stated otherwise. Our analysis covers all available tiers: Catastrophic, Bronze, Expanded Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum.
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About Mark Fitzpatrick
Mark Fitzpatrick, a Licensed Property and Casualty (P&C) Insurance Producer in Connecticut, is MoneyGeek's resident insurance expert. He has spent nearly a decade analyzing the market, first at LendingTree and now at MoneyGeek, where he has produced original research on hundreds of carriers and millions of rates across auto, home, renters, health and life insurance.
He covers economics and insurance at MoneyGeek, and his work has been featured in The Washington Post, The New York Times and NPR, among other outlets.
Like all MoneyGeek analysts, he draws on independent cost and consumer experience data. No insurance company partnership influences his recommendations.
Fitzpatrick earned his degrees from Johns Hopkins University (M.A. Economics and International Relations) and Boston College (B.A.). He began his career in financial risk management at State Street. He's also a five-time “Jeopardy!” champion.