By Townhall Chicago News Staff
Health Care Service Corporation, the Chicago-based parent of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois, on Wednesday reaffirmed its commitment to offering individual and family health insurance plans through the Affordable Care Act Marketplace in 2027 across all five states it serves.
The announcement comes as open enrollment begins Nov. 1 and as other major insurers have pulled out of ACA markets nationwide. HCSC said it will continue offering marketplace plans in Illinois, Montana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas.
“We have been in the Affordable Care Act Marketplace from the beginning to support individual and family access to quality health coverage,” Mark Tomaszewski, HCSC vice president of individual and family markets, said in a news release. “We continue to evolve our product offerings to meet the needs of consumers across the five states we serve while remaining committed to the long-term success and sustainability of the Marketplace.”
HCSC has participated in the ACA Marketplace since its inception in 2014. The company describes itself as the country’s largest customer-owned health insurer, serving approximately 27 million people across the United States, according to the release.
The reaffirmation carries particular weight as the marketplace landscape shifts. A Kaiser Family Foundation analysis updated Oct. 28 found that 11 carriers have announced they will exit ACA Marketplaces in 2027, either in some or all states where they currently offer plans. Among them is Cigna, which reported first-quarter on-exchange enrollment of more than 350,000 individuals and will exit the 11 states in which it currently participates, according to the KFF report.
The departures follow the expiration of enhanced premium tax credits at the end of 2025, which drove ACA sign-ups to fall by more than 1 million from the 2025 to 2026 open enrollment periods, according to KFF. Further membership declines are expected.
HCSC’s continued participation means Illinois consumers will retain access to Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans on the marketplace during the 2027 coverage year. For 2027, consumers will have access to a range of coverage options, provider networks and resources, the company said.
HCSC provides coverage options for employers, individuals, families and Medicare and Medicaid enrollees. The company also offers pharmacy solutions, life and dental insurance and health technology through affiliates and subsidiaries, according to the release. HCSC is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association.
Open enrollment for individual and family marketplace coverage begins Nov. 1. Consumers can explore plan options and enroll through HealthCare.gov or their state marketplace website.
