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Hey Illinoisans, #JustGetCovered!

Not sure if you can get insurance? Or unsure how to actually sign up (hint: check out GetCoveredIllinois.gov)? We’ve got you covered!

Think you can’t afford health insurance?

Thanks to premium tax credits, which are based on your income, you might be surprised. Six in 10 Illinoisans on GetCoveredIllinois.gov will qualify for a plan costing less than $100 a month. Eighty percent of Prairie State residents buying on the marketplace can receive tax credits that offset the cost of health care premiums.

Not sure it is worth it?

Everyone, even those who are healthy, can benefit from insurance. It gives us access to free preventative care and screenings that keep us healthier over time, and it protects our pocketbooks from unexpected illnesses and accidents that we cannot plan for. On top of that, those without health care will have to pay a penalty of $695 or 2.5% of their income (whichever is greater).

Where do I start?

You can get covered in just a few steps. Here are the essentials:

Step 1: Remember the deadline. Open enrollment is the time period during which you can enroll in health insurance offered through GetCoveredIllinois.gov. The enrollment period runs between November 1, 2016 and January 31, 2017. Sign up before January 31 to get coverage in 2017.

Step 2: Do a little research. You can find the plan that is best for you by determining what plans you are eligible for including what financial assistance is available, compare the plans available to you, and make an appointment for help from a real, live person!

Step 3: Get covered. Now that you know your options and why health care is important, go to GetCoveredIllinois.gov to enroll in coverage. And don’t procrastinate – sign up by January 31, 2017, to make sure you’ve got coverage in 2017 and don’t have to pay a fine. To enroll you’ll need:

  • Proof of the number of members in your household (think proof of address, birth dates, and social security numbers)
  • Contact information and social security numbers of household members you want to enroll in coverage
  • Your tax household’s annual salary (for more details on how to estimate this, visit HealthCare.gov’s expected income page)
  • Policy numbers for any current health plan

You can also use this handy checklist from HealthCare.gov to make sure you have the documents you need for signing up for healthcare.

Be sure to also check out our #HealthyAdulting Resource Toolkit for information on all things coverage to care.