Health Insurance in 2026: Higher Costs, New Rules, and How to Stay Covered

For many Illinois families, the last few years have been a rollercoaster of coverage options, premium shifts, and political whiplash. In the wake of the pandemic, expanded ACA subsidies, Medicaid protections, and easier enrollment rules made health insurance feel, for once, more accessible and affordable. But as 2025 came to a close, that stability began to shake.