A record 449,553 Illinois residents sign up for Affordable Care Act insurance, amid uncertainty over future – Chicago Tribune/MSN

Illinois is seeking to better insulate itself from changing politics at the federal level by transitioning to running its own health insurance marketplace. Last year, the state awarded $6.5 million to health care organizations, as part of a navigator program, to help enroll people in Affordable Care Act health insurance this open enrollment period. And during the next open enrollment period, consumers in Illinois will select plans from a state website rather than from the federal HealthCare.gov.