The U.S. Supreme court agreed to take up a case that could put the Affordable Care Act in jeopardy. But Illinois health care advocates still urge residents to check out their options.
The Supreme Court expects to rule on whether federal subsidies can be given to residents in states, like Illinois, that did not create their own online marketplaces. In the meantime, subsidies to help cover the cost of insurance will still be available.
The open enrollment period for 2015 started over the weekend and will last until mid-December.
Jillian Phillips is with the Campaign for Better Health Care. She says more than three-quarters of residents who bought insurance through the exchange last year qualified for financial help.
“So long as the subsidies are available, they will not be taken away from any consumers. So consumers should proceed just as they were going to and not think that they're going to kind of have to pay back anything or that anything will be taken away.”
Those who purchased insurance through the exchange last year can use the open enrollment to change their coverage. If they do not make any changes before the middle of next month, they will be re-enrolled automatically in their current plans.