Written by a parent, not a doctor. Nothing here is medical advice.

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Illinois program

A new health plan after coverage loss (Get Covered Illinois)

Illinois’s health insurance Marketplace lets you compare plans and financial help after a qualifying coverage loss.

What it is

Illinois’s health insurance Marketplace lets you compare plans and financial help after a qualifying coverage loss.

Get Covered Illinois can review new coverage after a qualifying loss or changes to an existing Marketplace plan. Marketplace help uses projected annual income, while Medicaid checks current monthly income. Your child’s All Kids enrollment does not establish coverage for the adults.

Eligibility rules
  • The ordinary post-loss enrollment window is 60 days. Loss of Medicaid or All Kids usually gives 90 days.
  • The 2026 premium-credit income ceiling is 400% of poverty. Other tax-credit eligibility rules also apply.
What you get
  • A new Marketplace health plan after a qualifying event.
  • Premium tax credits for eligible households up to 400% of poverty in 2026.
What the help includes
  • Premium help lowers the monthly plan price. Deductibles, copays and network restrictions still depend on the plan.
If you decide to apply
  1. Discuss a coverage loss or income change with a Marketplace enrollment helper. Have your current plan information and any coverage-end notice ready.
  2. Ask a Get Covered Illinois enrollment helper to compare plans against your hospital, cancer team and medicines.
  3. Have the loss notice, household income estimate and insurance information ready.

Get Covered Illinois: 866-311-1119 · Official page ↗

What happens next
  • The Marketplace confirms the enrollment window, available financial help and the new plan’s start date.
Good to know

The usual 60-day enrollment window runs from the coverage end date. Existing Marketplace coverage also needs review when projected annual income changes.

Other details
  • Illinois uses Get Covered Illinois rather than HealthCare.gov for its state Marketplace.
  • Federal cost-sharing reductions can lower out-of-pocket costs for eligible households choosing the appropriate Silver plan, generally at 100%–250% of poverty. The enrollment helper can confirm the coverage year’s rules and whether any separately funded Illinois help is available.

Federal background: Marketplace special enrollment after a qualifying event.

Official sources
Ask your social worker

“If our coverage ends, which Marketplace plans cover our child’s team, and what would they cost? Could you help us compare the tradeoffs and enroll if this is our best option?”

Why I’m asking: I want to avoid a gap in treatment coverage and understand the full cost of a replacement plan.

More background and detailed requirements
Additional program information and published rules

Who does what

The three parts, side by side. The agency decides; nobody on this page does.

You

Get the plan end date and enroll before the deadline; check the hospital is in network.

Your social worker

The social worker helps compare plans against the oncology center's network.

The care team

Records and letters when the application asks for them.

Who decides
Get Covered Illinois decides enrollment and any premium credit.
Ask HR
“What is the last day of our health coverage, and will I get that in writing? I have 60 days from that date to enroll through Get Covered Illinois.”

How to apply

First step: Get the coverage end date in writing, then enroll at getcovered.illinois.gov or call 866-311-1119.

  1. Get the coverage end date from HR or the Medicaid notice.
  2. Enroll within 60 days (90 after Medicaid) and check the network for the hospital.

Official application / program page ↗

Where it starts: Enroll at getcovered.illinois.gov or call 866-311-1119 within the window.

What to gather

  • Proof of coverage loss with the date
  • Income estimate for the year
  • Household size

How long: Enroll before the deadline; coverage starts the first of the following month in most cases.

Clock: 60 days after the coverage loss to enroll at Get Covered Illinois

Clock: Usually 90 days after Medicaid or All Kids ends

What a yes looks like

An enrollment confirmation with the start date and the premium after credit.

What a no looks like, and the next move

Missed the deadline: check Medicaid for the parent (this month's income) or COBRA.

Watch out

  • Sixty days runs from the coverage end date, not the last day of work.
  • Check the network for the oncology center before enrolling.
  • Over 400% of poverty there is no premium credit in 2026.

Dates that change this

2025-11-01: Get Covered Illinois replaced HealthCare.gov for Illinois from November 1, 2025 (plan year 2026).

2025-12-31: Enhanced premium tax credits ended after 2025; households over 400% of poverty get no credit in 2026.

The numbers and the rules

The arcane layer, kept on purpose. Checked September 8, 2026.

What it is worth

A special enrollment period: 60 days after a plan ends or another qualifying event; usually 90 days after losing Medicaid or All Kids. Premium credits up to 400% of poverty in 2026.

Covers: Individual and family plans through the state Marketplace

Legal protection: 60-day enrollment window after a qualifying event · Usually 90 days after losing Medicaid or All Kids

What it costs the family: Premium after any credit.

The eligibility facts, as published

Window ordinary days
60
Window medicaid loss days
90
Premium tax credit ceiling
400% FPL in 2026
State cost sharing help
none found

Decisions this site cannot make: Marketplace eligibility

Expect friction on: Network check

The trap: Check that the new plan's network includes the oncology center before enrolling; the plan year is long.

Where I read this

← Back to your options