October 23, 2025

These are very challenging times. ACA Marketplace Open Enrollment is about to begin, and the partisan budget bill signed into law on July 4 of this year did not extend the enhanced premium tax credits that helped to make Marketplace plans more affordable to millions of Americans. In addition, during the government shutdown, the Trump Administration has refused to release funds for the food stamp program known as SNAP, so millions of Americans are going to feel the hunger pains from not having their benefits.

These are indeed tough times. These are mean policy decisions that will only inflict pain of everyday Americans.

Collectively, we must do the best we can to meet the moment, and provide valuable information, and direct people in our community to vital resources.

Please see below for more information:

ACA Marketplace Open Enrollment Community Meeting:
As we do every year, CCHCC will be holding a Community Meeting for ACA Marketplace Open Enrollment, where community members can come and learn about the Marketplace and what options are available.

Please note that even though the partisan budget bill signed into law on July 4 did not extend the Enhanced Premium Tax Subsidies – that’s the financial assistance to make health insurance premiums more affordable based on your income – the regular Premium Tax Subsidies are still available, and folks might be able to find coverage that works for them.

We encourage community members to attend this meeting if they are eligible for Marketplace coverage!

WHAT: Marketplace Open Enrollment Community Meeting

WHEN: Wednesday, October 29, 2025 at 7 p.m.

WHERE: Champaign Public Library; 200 W. Green St., Champaign

AMENITIES:  Free parking; accessible; and refreshments.

This meeting will be open to anyone who is seeking health insurance through the Marketplace or Medicaid. The State of Illinois will be operating its own Marketplace starting this fall, called Get Covered Illinois, rather than continuing the partnership with the federal government for use of their Marketplace. We will explain the Open Enrollment process, options for financial assistance, and the difference between Marketplace and Medicaid plans.

Please note that Marketplace Open Enrollment takes place from November 1, 2025 through January 15, 2026. Individuals experiencing major life changes, like a marriage or divorce, change in employment, birth of a child, etc. might qualify for a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) and can enroll in a Marketplace plan outside of the Open Enrollment period. Medicaid enrollment is available year-round.
 
Changes to SNAP:
The nasty changes implemented as a result of the partisan budget bill (the “One Big Beautiful Bill” Act) signed into law on July 4, 2025 are taking effect on November 1, 2025.

People who currently have SNAP benefits (food stamps) are now getting letters from IL Dept. of Human Services notifying them about work requirements and whether they have to comply with those work requirements.

As a reminder, certain individuals with SNAP will be required to have 80 hours per month of documented employment or volunteer activity, and they will have to submit proof of those activities and hours.

The Federal Government Shutdown and SNAP:
More bad news about SNAP – as a result of the Federal Government Shutdown, and the choice by the Trump Administration to NOT continue funding for SNAP during the Shutdown, millions of people around the country will go without SNAP benefits in the month of November.

IL Dept. of Human Services (IDHS) has sent letters to SNAP beneficiaries to let them know that their SNAP benefits will NOT be loaded on to their LINK cards (debit cards for SNAP benefits) in November, and that they need to make alternative plans for getting food and nutrition from other sources, if possible.

People will go hungry, and food banks, food pantries, and soup kitchens will be overwhelmed. This is devastating news.

But let’s be clear about this: This was a choice by the Trump Administration. In the past, during other shutdowns of the federal government, essential services and benefits were maintained and funded. But not this time.

Resources:
We are grateful to the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District for maintaining a list of food banks, food pantries, and soup kitchens, and the schedules for each.

You can find the list here:
https://www.c-uphd.org/documents/wellness/food-pantries-en.pdf

How you can help during these difficult times:
You can help by sharing this information with your various networks. Please help spread the word about the upcoming ACA Marketplace Open Enrollment Meeting, and the changes to SNAP, and the list of food banks, food pantries, and soup kitchens.

You can also help by supporting CCHCC financially if you are able to do so. We are on the front lines of helping our community members.

Let’s all hang in there, and do whatever we can to weather this storm and help others to do the same.

DONATE NOW!

Sincerely,

Claudia Lennhoff
Executive Director
Champaign County Health Care Consumers