Illinois uses state-run ACA exchange to extend deadline
[January 14, 2026]
By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributor
(The Center Square) – Illinois residents now have until Jan. 31 to
enroll in health insurance through Get Covered Illinois, as the state
extends the deadline by 16 days to give consumers more time amid
uncertainty over federal Affordable Care Act subsidies.
State Rep. Bill Hauter, R-Morton, a practicing physician, said the
extension highlights one of the core advantages of Illinois operating
its own health insurance exchange rather than relying solely on the
federal Healthcare.gov platform.
“I don’t think they’re going to struggle to get enrollees,” Hauter told
TCS. “I think that actually is probably exactly what they wanted, in
that you couldn’t extend the enrollment deadline with the federal plan.”
Get Covered Illinois says the extension gives consumers more time to
compare plans amid record enrollment. Marketplace Director Morgan
Winters said the state-run exchange has the authority and resources to
expand access to affordable coverage.
“Illinois decided to go with its own system. We used to go through the
federal government, but with how often the state is at odds with federal
policy, lawmakers anticipated those changes and moved to Get Covered
Illinois, like many other states have done. That gives Illinois more
control — especially in situations like this, where the state can extend
enrollment deadlines multiple times,” said Hauter.
Hauter said flexibility matters as Illinois residents face uncertainty
over federal funding and potential changes to ACA subsidies.
“Now that Illinois and other states are facing kind of the unknowns,
changes to federal funding and to the subsidies for the ACA, being able
to do it from a state administrative website has made it easier for them
to extend the deadline in the face of all these changes,” Hauter said.
According to a news release, Illinois invested nearly $7 million in
navigator grants and deployed more than 140 navigators and 9,000
certified brokers to help residents enroll through Get Covered Illinois.
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Hauter acknowledged that navigators can be useful, but questioned
whether the state’s cost estimates will hold up.
“I’d be very surprised if that’s all it was,” Hauter said of the $7
million figure. “They say it’s one price, and then we find out it’s
much more. I anticipate when the final budget numbers come out that
it’s going to be much, much higher for the whole process.”
Hauter also warned that while consumers may see lower premiums
through Get Covered Illinois, the state-run marketplace still
carries taxpayer costs.
Under the current system, Illinois residents seeking ACA coverage
must enroll through Get Covered Illinois rather than Healthcare.gov.
Hauter said the plans and premiums remain largely unchanged, with
administration shifting from federal to state control.
“They’re offering the same programs and healthcare premiums,” he
said. “It’s now being administered by Illinois instead of the
federal government.”
Despite those concerns, Hauter said the extended enrollment period
benefits patients caught between jobs, subsidies, and shifting
federal policy.
“I think extending the enrollment deadline is good for patients,”
Hauter said. “The state-run marketplace is more flexible, and that’s
probably been better for families right now.”
While supportive of flexibility during a period of federal
uncertainty, Hauter said long-term healthcare affordability depends
on moving more residents into private, employer-based insurance
rather than subsidized programs.
“The best thing for the state is getting people onto private
insurance, ideally through their employer,” Hauter said. “That’s
better than keeping people in heavily subsidized marketplaces or
Medicaid.”
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