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Are There Better Health Insurance Options for Freelancers in Illinois?
Freelancers in Illinois — designers, writers, developers, photographers, musicians — usually buy whatever Get Covered Illinois shows them in November and move on. There's often a better fit.
If your income is modest or variable
The marketplace is probably right, and you may qualify for a larger subsidy than you think once expenses are deducted. Medicaid is expanded in Illinois.
If you've grown past the subsidy line
Successful freelancers hit the 400% cliff and suddenly pay full price. If you're healthy, a private shared-network PPO on Cigna, Aetna and PHCS PPO is priced on your health, not your 1099s — usually 30–50% less, with a national network that travels with you.
If you work across state lines
Marketplace HMOs are local. A national PPO covers you in-network in every state, which matters for freelancers who split time between Illinois and somewhere else.
If you have a pre-existing condition
Stay on the marketplace. Private plans underwrite; the marketplace doesn't.
The Illinois picture
Illinois moved to its own state-run marketplace, Get Covered Illinois, for 2026 coverage, and Chicago-area marketplace plans are heavily HMO — one reason suburban business owners look at national PPOs. Illinois has a flat 4.95% state income tax, so the self-employed premium deduction helps at both levels.
Check your options — we'll show you both.