The U.S. Supreme Court may rule this week on whether tax credits can be given to those who buy health coverage in states without their own insurance exchanges.

Illinois is one of the states which uses the federal marketplace. The plaintiffs in the King vs. Burwell case argue the Affordable Care Act authorizes subsidies only for people who buy off state-based marketplaces. U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) says it is true Illinois would now be on its own to cover the cost of setting up its own exchange.

“The opportunity that they had with federal assistance is gone, but the opportunity to change over to a state exchange is always there, and there’s no reason why Illinois shouldn’t have its own state insurance exchange,” Durbin said.

If the court rules only customers in states with their own exchanges can receive subsidies, Illinois customers who buy coverage through the federal exchange could see their annual insurance premiums go up by more than $2,000.

 

 

 

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