SPRINGFIELD, IL (Chambana Today) — With the tax filing deadline of April 15 approaching, Get Covered Illinois has announced a new program called “Tax Time Easy Enrollment,” designed to connect uninsured Illinois residents to affordable health coverage. While open enrollment has ended, the program allows taxpayers to access health insurance as part of their annual tax filing process.

To participate, residents filing their IL-1040 should check the “Health Insurance” box on line 42 and specify which household members need coverage. The Illinois Department of Revenue will then share this information with Get Covered Illinois, who will notify the filer of their potential eligibility for health plans, including eligibility for Medicaid or premium tax credits.

Those eligible for Marketplace insurance will have 60 days from the notice date to apply and enroll. Importantly, checking the box does not affect the tax return and does not require immediate enrollment.

“By embedding health insurance enrollment into the annual tax filing process, Illinois is making it easier than ever for residents to take the first step toward getting covered,” said Get Covered Illinois Director Morgan Winters. “As a state-based marketplace, we now have the ability to create programs like Tax Time Easy Enrollment that open new pathways to coverage for our residents.”

Additionally, Get Covered Illinois continues to offer special enrollment periods for individuals who experience major life changes, such as marriage, loss of coverage, or pregnancy. “Illinois continues to expand access to coverage by aligning enrollment with the real-life moments when people need care,” said Director Winters. “By recognizing pregnancy as a qualifying life event, we’re making it easier for Illinoisans to enroll in coverage when they need it most.”

For more information, or to apply for coverage, visit GetCoveredIllinois.gov/SpecialEnrollment or connect with a certified broker or navigator who can provide free enrollment assistance.