Prescription savings guide
Prescription Help for the Uninsured in Illinois
Last updated September 8, 2026 · Reviewed by the LowerScript editorial team · Español
About 8.1% of Illinois residents under 65 have no health insurance (Census ACS, 2020–2024). Illinois adopted the ACA Medicaid expansion effective January 1, 2014 (KFF), so more low-income adults qualify for Medicaid here than in a state that has not expanded — and since November 1, 2025, Illinois runs its own state-based marketplace, Get Covered Illinois, for the 2026 plan year (Illinois Department of Human Services; Get Covered Illinois press release, Aug. 11, 2025). If you're uninsured, checking your Medicaid eligibility, shopping the Marketplace, and using a free prescription discount card can each lower what you pay for medications, often without any coverage at all.
Start here
Get a free card and compare your medication's cash price at nearby pharmacies, then fill where it's cheapest.
Check your Medicaid eligibility
Illinois adopted the ACA Medicaid expansion effective January 1, 2014 (KFF, Status of State Medicaid Expansion Decisions). Current eligibility: children up to 318% of the federal poverty level, pregnant individuals up to 213% FPL with a 12-month postpartum extension, and non-elderly adults — the expansion group — up to 138% FPL, all with a built-in 5% MAGI income disregard (healthinsurance.org, Medicaid eligibility and enrollment in Illinois). As of October 2025, 3,041,306 Illinoisans were enrolled in Medicaid/CHIP in total, including about 688,654 adults covered specifically under the ACA expansion group as of August 2025, per healthinsurance.org's synthesis of KFF/CMS enrollment data.
Shop the Marketplace
If you don't qualify for Medicaid, Illinois's new state-based exchange, Get Covered Illinois, replaced HealthCare.gov for Illinois residents starting with the 2026 plan year, per Illinois Department of Human Services and the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services' own launch notice. 448,568 Illinoisans selected a 2026 Marketplace plan, per healthinsurance.org's summary of the Get Covered Illinois transition, and eight out of 10 Illinois exchange enrollees were eligible for a subsidy on their 2026 plan, per the same source. Visit getcovered.illinois.gov to check your options.
For expensive drugs
Check manufacturer patient-assistance programs and nonprofits. See Illinois prescription assistance programs.
Local resources
Illinois's 211 helpline can point you to community health centers and local support.
Frequently asked questions
How can I afford medication without insurance in Illinois?
Use a free discount card, choose generics, compare pharmacies, and check your Medicaid or Marketplace eligibility.
Is a discount card enough on its own?
For many common drugs, yes. For expensive brand drugs, combine it with assistance programs.
Where do I get a free card?
Download the free LowerScript card on this site — no sign-up.
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020–2024 5-year estimates; KFF, Status of State Medicaid Expansion Decisions; healthinsurance.org, Medicaid eligibility and enrollment in Illinois; Illinois Department of Human Services, Get Covered Illinois; Get Covered Illinois press release (Aug. 11, 2025); healthinsurance.org, Illinois Health Insurance Marketplace: 2026 ACA Coverage Guide. This guide is general information, not medical, legal or financial advice. Always talk to your doctor or pharmacist about your medications. LowerScript is a discount program, not insurance.
Ready to save? Get your free Illinois discount card or check a medication price.
Get your free cardMore guides: What Is a Prescription Discount Card? · How to Use a Prescription Discount Card · Can You Use a Discount Card With Medicare? · Insurance vs Cash Price: Which Is Cheaper? | All savings guides · Drug prices