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: March 26, 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
Get rates from at least three insurers. Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna and Humana price coverage differently, so small business owners should expect about 15% to 30% variation in rates between providers.
- 3Verify provider networks
Confirm your physicians and hospitals accept the plans you're comparing. Out-of-network care costs more and can require you to pay up front.
- 4Review cost-sharing details
Higher deductibles mean lower monthly premiums, but you pay more 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 have different costs and levels of flexibility.HMOs cost less but require referrals to see specialists. PPOs give you direct access to specialists without prior approval, though you'll pay higher premiums. EPOs and POS plans fall somewhere in the middle, with moderate premiums and some restrictions on which providers you can see.
- 6Explore federal programs
You may qualify for subsidies or Medicare if you have a low income, a qualifying disability or are 65 or older. Check Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement options.
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 rank as the top health insurance providers in Illinois for 2026. Oscar offers the best balance of affordable premiums and comprehensive coverage, while Molina Healthcare provides the cheapest monthly rates but comes with 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 get health insurance through the GetCovered Illinois (the state's official health insurance marketplace), directly from insurance companies or with help from licensed brokers. The open enrollment period is from November 1 through January 15 each year. Special enrollment periods are available after qualifying life events like 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?
Yes, you can have multiple health insurance plans in Illinois. Through coordination of benefits, your primary plan pays first and your secondary plan may cover remaining eligible expenses. This arrangement commonly occurs 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%): Your recurring monthly payment has the biggest impact on affordability. Lower premiums earn higher scores.
- Maximum out-of-pocket (20%): This caps your total yearly spending beyond premiums. Lower limits score better.
- Deductible (20%): The amount you pay 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 analyzed the insurance market for almost a decade, first with LendingTree and now with MoneyGeek, conducting original research on hundreds of insurance companies and millions of insurance rates for insurance shoppers.
He writes about economics and insurance on MoneyGeek, breaking down complex topics so people can have confidence in their purchase. Like all MoneyGeek analysts, Mark collects and analyzes independent cost and consumer experience data on insurance companies to provide objective recommendations in our content that are independent of any of MoneyGeek's insurance company partnerships.
His insights — on products ranging from car, home and renters insurance to health and life insurance — have been featured in The Washington Post, The New York Times and NPR among others.
Mark holds a master’s degree in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He started his career working in financial risk management at State Street before transitioning to analysis of the personal insurance market. He's also a five-time Jeopardy champion!