What’s New About My Plan in 2026?
2025 saw a lot of major changes to insurance. The huge increase in premium rates, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act limiting accessibility, the switch from Healthcare.gov to getCovered.Illinois.gov, and the expiration of enhanced subsidies are just some of the factors affecting your plan in 2026. That being said, here are some of the most important things for you to keep track of with your plan in 2026:
-Your Deductible has reset as of January 1st. No matter when you signed up, if you are on an individual plan, it resets at the start of the year. This means you will have to contribute more until that deductible is hit. Your deductible amount may have changed from last year as well, so if you haven’t checked out your plan info, make sure to do that now!
-Your out-of-pocket maximum has also reset and has increased in 2026. The limit for a marketplace plan has gone up to $10,600 for an individual and $21,200 for a family. These rates are a federal cap that cannot be exceeded, though some plans may have a lower out-of-pocket maximum, depending on the plan.
-Enhanced subsidies have expired, but some folks are still eligible for “regular” tax credits. These lower the premium for eligible Marketplace applicants, and are based on income. Households within 100% to 400% of the Federal poverty line may be eligible for these subsidies.
-Illinois marketplace applicants have been switched over from the Federal Healthcare.gov site to the new state-based marketplace, GetCovered.Illinois.gov. This transition saw a lot of hiccups, but if you renewed your marketplace plan automatically, your info was carried over to GetCovered Illinois automatically.
-Your 2026 plan comes with a new insurance ID card. If you stayed with your same carrier, the ID number will remain the same, but a new card will have been shipped to you automatically. If you have trouble locating your new ID card, you can also access a digital version in your member portal.
Overall, the start of this insurance year was one of the toughest for a lot of folks. If there’s anything you’re unsure about or confused by with your new plan, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Your insurance moms are here to help!
