Medicare plans Illinois residents can compare, side by side

Medicare plans Illinois offers, and how they differ

Illinois is a large Medicare state. Roughly 2.4 million people in Illinois were enrolled in Medicare as of August 2024, about 18 percent of the state population, and around 43 percent of them had chosen a Medicare Advantage plan.

That split matters, because the two paths work differently. It is the first fork anyone comparing Medicare plans Illinois offers has to settle. Understanding which one fits you comes ahead of comparing any specific plan.

Original Medicare

Part A and Part B come from the federal government and work with any provider in the country who accepts Medicare. There is no network. There is also no cap on what you can pay out of pocket, which is why most people add something to it.

Medicare Advantage, or Part C

Private plans that replace how your Medicare benefits are delivered. They include Part A and Part B, usually add Part D drug coverage, and add a provider network, an out-of-pocket maximum, and often extra benefits.

Medicare Supplement, also called Medigap

A policy that pays a share of what Original Medicare leaves behind. It keeps nationwide provider freedom and is paired with a separate Part D drug plan. About 752,795 Illinois beneficiaries held a Medigap policy in 2023.

Illinois rules for people under 65 on Medicare

About 232,000 Illinois Medicare beneficiaries are under 65 and qualified through disability. Many states leave this group with no realistic Medigap option. Illinois does not.

Illinois provides a six-month guaranteed-issue window for people under 65 to enroll in an available Medigap policy. Premiums for under-65 enrollees can be higher than the rates charged at 65, but the coverage is available.

There is also an annual guaranteed-issue opportunity with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois running October 15 through December 7 for under-65 beneficiaries.

If you qualified for Medicare through disability, these windows are worth understanding before you assume Medicare Advantage is your only option.

Part D prescription coverage in Illinois

Most Medicare plans Illinois residents choose still need a drug component. Whether you take Original Medicare with a Medigap policy or a Medicare Advantage plan without built-in coverage, you need a Part D plan for prescriptions.

Part D plans are also approved by region, and each has its own formulary, pharmacy network, and tier structure. The same medication can sit on different tiers in two plans sold on the same street.

If you take brand-name medication, the formulary matters far more than the monthly premium. A plan that costs a few dollars less each month can cost hundreds more a year for one drug.

Our Part D page explains how the coverage stages work and what to check before enrolling.

Help paying for prescriptions

Extra Help, also called the Low Income Subsidy, reduces Part D costs for people with limited income and resources. You can check eligibility through the Social Security Administration.

Medicare and Medicaid together in Illinois

If you qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid, the Medicare plans Illinois makes available include some built specifically for that combination. Dual Eligible Special Needs Plans coordinate the two programs and typically carry far broader extra benefits than a general plan.

Qualifying for Medicaid also opens a Special Enrollment Period, so you are not limited to the fall window. Our dual eligibility page explains how the two programs fit together.

Medicare Savings Programs, run through the state, can pay your Part B premium and sometimes your deductibles. Details are at Medicare.gov.