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President Donald Trump’s decision to end health insurer subsidies creates uncertainty for the future of the Illinois exchange.

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The subsidies, also called cost-sharing reduction payments, compensate insurers for reducing deductible and copay costs for lower-income consumers who buy insurance on the exchange.

Trump has threatened for months to end the payments, which could threaten the health insurance of 175,000 Illinoisans and nearly 75,000 in Cook County.

In Chicagoland

ACA enrollment as of March 2017

County 2017 enrollees Percentage receiving subsidies Percentage receiving subsidies Amount paid in 2016
Cook 144,418
51.0%

 51.0% $64.7 million
Lake 22,836
47.9%

 47.9% $10.9 million
DuPage 35,597
45.6%

 45.6% $16.4 million
Grundy 1,215
45.5%

 45.5% $0.6 million
Kendall 3,686
45.2%

 45.2% $1.5 million
McHenry 11,473
44.7%

 44.7% $5.0 million
Will 19,521
44.3%

 44.3% $8.6 million
Kane 14,468
43.1%

 43.1% $6.2 million
Kankakee 2,227
40.1%

 40.1% $1.1 million

In the Midwest

Ending the cost sharing payments would affect some counties more than others. These monthly payments to insurers help pay for about half of all ACA enrollees in Cook County, and that percentage increases in areas of Wisconsin, southern Indiana and Missouri.

Percentage of ACA enrollees who received subsidies

« Lower percentage





Higher percentage »

Sources: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services data via the Associated Press

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