Illinois Department of Insurance Newsroom

September 16, 2021 - Final enrollment numbers for the ACA Health Insurance Marketplace show that more than 54-thousand Illinoisans purchased health plans during the Special Enrollment Period in response to COVID-19. It's more than double the number of Illinoisans enrolled in plans during the same six-month period in previous years.

August 25, 2021 - Governor JB Pritzker today signed two pieces of legislation into law to establish a forward-thinking mental healthcare infrastructure in Illinois. House Bill 2595 requires medically necessary mental healthcare to be covered by insurance beginning January 1, 2023. Illinois follows California and Oregon in requiring coverage for mental, emotional, nervous or substance use disorders. House Bill 2784 creates a first responder system that will coordinate 911 and 988 emergency responses when the national 988 mental health crisis line is established in the summer of 2022. This initiative - the first statewide approach of its kind in the nation - aims to reduce arrests for those with mental illnesses who are deserving of a specialist's intervention.

August 13, 2021 - On Sunday, August 15th, the 2021 Special Enrollment Period (SEP) in Response to COVID-19 will close. The Biden-Harris Administration opened the SEP for the ACA Health Insurance Marketplace in February. Since then, more than 47-thousand Illinoisans have selected new health plans-- nearly double the enrollment during the same period last year.

July 2, 2021 - IDOI Announces Even More Unemployed Illinoisans Without Health Insurance Can Get Covered Because of the American Rescue Plan Chicago – Beginning this month, more unemployed Illinoisans in need of health insurance may be eligible for financial help to purchase plans on the ACA Marketplace. Consumers who received unemployment compensation for any week beginning in 2021 (or are approved to receive benefits) may find even lower cost plans and reduce out-of-pocket health insurance expenses, according to the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

April 13, 2021 - As Illinoisans welcome April showers and May flowers, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR), Illinois Department of Insurance (IDOI), Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) and local emergency management agencies throughout Illinois are reminding Illinoisans to invest in flood insurance to protect their homes and businesses from flooding emergencies.

April 9, 2021 - Illinois Department of Insurance announces ACA Marketplace enrollment nearly doubled during the 2021 Special Enrollment Period compared to the same period last year. Illinoisans are signing up for ACA Health Insurance Marketplace plans at nearly twice the rate of this time last year, according to federal CMS numbers released this week. Nearly 15,000 Illinois consumers purchased and enrolled in health plans since February, when President Biden signed an executive order to open the ACA Marketplace for a new Special Enrollment in response to COVID-19. Unlike other SEPs, consumers are not required to provide proof of a qualifying life event, such as getting married, having a baby, or losing job-based coverage to enroll.

March 25, 2021 — Illinois Department of Insurance Announces ACA Marketplace Enrollment Deadline is Extended to August 15, 2021 Chicago - Eligible Illinoisans now have more time to sign up for ACA Health Insurance Marketplace plans. President Biden has extended the deadline for the Special Enrollment Period in Response to COVID-19 from May 15th to August 15th.

February 11, 2021 - February 15th is the start of the new 2021 Special Enrollment Period Governor JB Pritzker is encouraging eligible Illinoisans who do not have health insurance to enroll in an ACA Health Insurance Marketplace plan beginning February 15th. An executive order signed by President Biden allows states, including Illinois, which utilize the federal marketplace to reopen this month to help more people purchase health insurance coverage. The 2021 Special Enrollment Period (SEP) in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic runs through May 15, 2021.

January 4, 2021 - Gov. Pritzker Announces Director Appointment to the Illinois Department of Insurance Building on a strong team of diverse experts in their fields, Governor JB Pritzker announced the following appointment in his administration: Chicago – Dana Popish Severinghaus will serve as Director of the Illinois Department of Insurance (IDOI).

December 14, 2020 - IDOI Reminds Illinoisans to Enroll in a Health Insurance Plan Before Pending Deadline ACA Marketplace Open Enrollment Ends December 15th

December 2, 2020 - Robert Muriel, Director of the Illinois Department of Insurance, announced today that he’ll leave his position on December 11, 2020. Muriel was appointed to the position by Governor J.B. Pritzker in March 2019.

November 17, 2020 - The Illinois Department of Insurance (IDOI) fined Continental Indemnity Company and Applied Underwriters, Inc. for overcharging some Illinois small businesses for workers’ compensation insurance.

November 2, 2020 - Illinoisans can shop for health insurance on the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Health Insurance Marketplace. Open Enrollment began Sunday, November 1 and runs through December 15, 2020.

October 28, 2020 - The Illinois Department of Insurance (IDOI) welcomes three new carriers as it releases health insurance rates for the Illinois Exchange 2021 Plan Year. The Illinois On-Exchange marketplace now has a total of eight carriers offering health insurance plans, including newcomers Bright Health Insurance Company of Illinois, MercyCare HMO, Inc. and SSM Health Plan. Continuing last year's downward trend, most Illinoisans will again see a decrease in premiums this year and rating areas remain the same. Press Release

September 30, 2020 - IDOI Helps Illinois Life Insurance Holders Collect More than $5 Million in Unclaimed Funds The Illinois Department of Insurance can help you find missing life insurance policies and collect the money you're owed from the millions of dollars in benefits that go unclaimed every year. This year, IDOI has already helped consumers find and collect more than $5 million from lost or unclaimed life insurance policies. Press Release