Family members with an unaffordable offer of family health insurance coverage from a spouse or parent’s employer may now qualify for financial assistance through Get Covered Illinois.
Health coverage through a family member’s job will only be deemed “affordable” if the actual cost to enroll each family member is affordable. When employer coverage for all family members is not affordable (for 2026 plan year, more than 9.96 percent of household income) the family may qualify for financial assistance to help purchase coverage through Get Covered Illinois.
Employees seeking coverage for themselves, or family members will need to submit a Get Covered Illinois application to find out whether they and/or their family members qualify for financial assistance on a plan through Get Covered Illinois. If family members are enrolled in job-based health insurance coverage through a spouse or parent’s employer but want to see whether they qualify for financial assistance, they should fill out and submit a Get Covered Illinois application.
Individuals and families enrolled in job-based coverage should not drop their job-based coverage prior to submitting a Get Covered Illinois application. Those with job-based coverage should submit a Get Covered Illinois application, then wait to hear from Get Covered Illinois on whether they qualify for financial assistance on a Get Covered Illinois plan.
Get Covered Illinois encourages anyone interested in learning whether they or their family members qualify for financial assistance to submit a Get Covered Illinois application to see if they may be newly eligible. If an individual submits a Get Covered Illinois application and finds out they or their family qualify for financial assistance to purchase a Get Covered Illinois family plan, they will need to disenroll from employer coverage and enroll in coverage through Get Covered Illinois.
Once an individual has confirmed their family is eligible for financial savings AND has enrolled in Get Covered Illinois family coverage, they should let their employer know they are declining (or “opting out” of) the employer coverage.
(Note: The policies governing eligibility for financial assistance are set by the federal government, and not the State of Illinois or Get Covered Illinois).
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