ILLINOIS (WCIA) — Residents of Illinois who rely on Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidized insurance plans are about to face a significant hike in premiums. However, a state-run marketplace is poised to offer fresh avenues for finding cost-effective plans.

While the ACA is often associated with healthcare.gov, the federal platform, Illinois has opted to create its own state-specific system. Officials assert that this approach will streamline the process of selecting a suitable plan for residents.

The insurance offerings and their costs remain unchanged, but Get Covered Illinois offers more than what initially seems apparent.

“The real distinction is in the level of control a state has over the resources and services it uses to assist locals in enrolling for coverage,” explained Morgan Winters, the newly appointed director of Get Covered Illinois.