Best Health Insurance in Illinois (2026)

Illinois's marketplace has seven carriers for 2026, but Blue Cross Blue Shield is the only one selling PPO and POS plans. Its Silver PPO costs $1,078 monthly for a 40-year-old. The cheapest Silver HMO, from Molina, costs $509. The $569 monthly difference between the two is the largest plan-type pricing gap in our analysis. 

All three top-ranked carriers price their Gold plans below Silver. For example, Ambetter Gold costs $656 monthly vs. $705 for Silver, a $49 monthly difference and a $5,053 lower deductible. You should compare all available plans on Get Covered Illinois to understand the full range of that difference.

Ambetter ranks first in our review of 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.

*Our picks are the best health insurance options for 40-year-olds looking for Silver-tier HMO plans.

Health insurance costs in Illinois change based on age, plan type and metal tier. Silver plans range from $509 to $1,078 monthly for a 40-year-old depending on plan type. We compared premiums, deductibles and maximum out-of-pocket costs for top insurers by age group and plan type.

By Age:

• Teens (18): Molina HMO costs $363 monthly for Silver coverage, the lowest rate in this age group per MoneyGeek's 2026 analysis.
• Young adults (26): Molina HMO runs $408 monthly for Silver coverage, the lowest rate in this age group. Ambetter HMO costs $565, BCBS POS costs $470 and BCBS PPO costs $864.
• Adults (40): Molina HMO costs $509 monthly for Silver coverage. Ambetter HMO costs $705, BCBS POS costs $587 and BCBS PPO costs $1,078.
• Seniors (60): Molina HMO reaches $1,080 monthly. Ambetter HMO climbs to $1,500, BCBS POS costs $1,247 and BCBS PPO reaches $2,289.

We noticed in our Illinois data that the premiums increase as you age. For example, Ambetter's Silver HMO rate rises 113% between age 40 and age 60, from $705 to $1,500. 

Plan Type:

• PPO: Blue Cross Blue Shield is Illinois's only PPO insurer. A 40-year-old pays $1,078 monthly for Silver PPO coverage, with a $3,933 deductible and $9,883 MOOP.
• HMO: Ambetter leads this tier. A 40-year-old pays $705 monthly for Ambetter's Silver HMO, with a $6,320 deductible and $8,320 MOOP.
• POS: Blue Cross Blue Shield charges 40-year-olds $587 monthly for Silver POS coverage, with a $4,667 deductible and $9,000 MOOP.

Health insurance costs vary depending on the provider. Monthly premiums, deductibles and maximum out-of-pocket limits differ based on the insurer.

Illinois's 2026 marketplace has seven carriers across HMO, POS and PPO plan types. Your best pick depends on how often you use care, whether your doctors are in-network and what combination of premium and deductible fits your annual budget.

HMO plans run $496 monthly at Bronze, $702 at Silver and $618 at Gold for a 40-year-old. PPO is the most expensive plan type, with Silver at $1,078 monthly. That's $376 more per month than the Silver HMO average. Blue Cross Blue Shield is Illinois's only PPO option.

POS plans are cheapest at Bronze ($389) and Gold ($476) but not Silver. Buyers who want a middle ground between HMO restrictions and PPO cost should compare BCBS POS Silver at $587 against Ambetter HMO Silver at $705 before choosing a plan type.

*Rates are averages for 40-year-olds in Illinois. Your rates will vary based on your age and location.

Illinois residents often ask common questions about enrollment periods, state insurance requirements and how multiple plans work together.

Monthly premiums carry the heaviest weight in our scoring because they represent the largest ongoing cost for most Illinois buyers. We also factor in deductibles and maximum out-of-pocket costs to capture the full annual cost picture.

Our Scoring System

We weighted three cost factors:

• Monthly premium (60%): The recurring monthly payment affects your budget most. Carriers with lower average premiums score highest on this factor.
• Maximum out-of-pocket (20%): The annual cap on spending beyond your premium. A lower average MOOP earns a higher score here.
• Deductible (20%): What you pay before coverage begins. Lower average deductibles improve this score.

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.