Hougom Insurance Agency

Insurance in Boone County · Northern Illinois

Insurance Coverage for Boone County, IL

Boone County is home to roughly 53,316 residents across Belvidere and Poplar Grove. Hougom Insurance Agency is a full-service independent agency licensed in Illinois and Wisconsin — we write every line here: Medicare, ACA/individual health, life insurance and annuities, group benefits, and home, auto, farm, and business coverage, comparing multiple carriers so you're never stuck with one company's price.

Get a free local review →   (608) 799-8434

By the numbers · Boone County

Quick facts for Boone County Medicare

8,719Residents age 65 and older — the population Medicare primarily serves (U.S. Census ACS 2023)
9insurance carriers competing in the metro
22$0-premium Medicare Advantage plans available
4.5★highest CMS star rating offered locally

Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (2023, 5-Year Estimates) & CMS Medicare Advantage Landscape (PY2026).

Health profile · why coverage choice matters here

Chronic conditions among Boone County adults

The right Medicare plan depends on your health. Here's how common key conditions are locally (CDC PLACES, model-based prevalence among 53,202 adults) — a reason to check each plan's drug formulary and specialist network before you enroll.

High blood pressure 30.9%
Obesity 36.9%
Arthritis 26.8%
Diabetes 12.2%
Heart disease 6.7%

Source: CDC PLACES Local Data for Better Health (2023).

Plans & stability

Medicare Advantage plans in Boone County (2026)

Representative MA-PD plans with drug coverage, by CMS star rating. "Stability" is each plan's published CMS Overall Star Rating — a federal quality measure, not our opinion. We never call a plan best or worst; we show the data and help you compare.

PlanCarrierPremiumDrug deductibleCMS ratingStability
Humana Full Access H7617-009 (PPO) Humana $0 $400 4.5★ Strong (4★+)
HumanaChoice H7617-018 (PPO) Humana $0 $615 4.5★ Strong (4★+)
AARP Medicare Advantage from UHC IA-0002 (HMO-POS) UnitedHealthcare $45 $520 4★ Strong (4★+)
Humana Gold Plus H1468-007 (HMO) Humana $0 $615 3.5★ Average (3.5★)
HumanaChoice H5216-251 (PPO) Humana $0 $615 3.5★ Average (3.5★)
Humana Full Access H5216-412 (PPO) Humana $0 $400 3.5★ Average (3.5★)
Aetna Medicare Advantra Extra (PPO) Aetna Medicare $0 $615 3.5★ Average (3.5★)
Aetna Medicare Signature Extra (PPO) Aetna Medicare $0 $615 3.5★ Average (3.5★)
HumanaChoice H5216-283 (PPO) Humana $5.2 $615 3.5★ Average (3.5★)
Aetna Medicare Advantra (PPO) Aetna Medicare $36 $615 3.5★ Average (3.5★)
Humana Gold Choice H8145-006 (PFFS) Humana $37 $615 3.5★ Average (3.5★)
AARP Medicare Advantage from UHC IL-6 (PPO) UnitedHealthcare $45 $600 3.5★ Average (3.5★)
HumanaChoice H5525-004 (PPO) Humana $60 $615 3.5★ Average (3.5★)
Clear Spring Health BrightPath Advantage (HMO) Clear Spring Health $0 $200 3★ Below average (<3.5★)
Aetna Medicare Signature (HMO-POS) Aetna Medicare $0 $615 3★ Below average (<3.5★)
Blue Cross Medicare Advantage Essential (PPO) Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois $0 $450 3★ Below average (<3.5★)
Blue Cross Medicare Advantage Health Choice (PPO) Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois $0 $615 3★ Below average (<3.5★)
Blue Cross Medicare Advantage Dental Premier (PPO) Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois $0 $615 3★ Below average (<3.5★)
Wellcare Simple Essential (HMO) Wellcare $0 $615 3★ Below average (<3.5★)
Wellcare Simple Essential Value (HMO) Wellcare $0 $615 3★ Below average (<3.5★)
Wellcare Giveback (HMO) Wellcare $0 $615 3★ Below average (<3.5★)
HumanaChoice R5361-002 (Regional PPO) Humana $103 $615 3★ Below average (<3.5★)
Zing Choice IL (HMO) Zing Health $0 $0 2.5★ Below average (<3.5★)
Zing Elite Select IL-IN (HMO) Zing Health $0 $0 2.5★ Below average (<3.5★)
Aetna Medicare Signature Extra (HMO-POS) Aetna Medicare $0 $615 Not yet rated
Molina Medicare Choice Care (HMO) Molina Healthcare of Illinois $0 $0 Not yet rated
DEVOTED CHOICE 003 IL (PPO) Devoted Health $0 $385 Not yet rated
DEVOTED CHOICE GIVEBACK 004 IL (PPO) Devoted Health $0 $605 Not yet rated

Source: CMS Medicare Advantage Landscape (PY2026). Premiums shown are consolidated monthly premiums; full plans vary — compare with the tool below.

Who covers you

Carriers in the Boone metro

  • Humana — 9 plans · HMO, PPO, Regional PPO, and PFFS options, including two 4.5★ plans
  • Aetna Medicare — 5 plans · CVS Health-owned; HMO-POS and PPO plans
  • Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois — 3 plans · HCSC-owned; PPO plans
  • Wellcare — 3 plans · Centene-owned; $0-premium HMO plans
  • UnitedHealthcare — 2 plans · AARP-branded HMO-POS and PPO plans
  • Zing Health — 2 plans · $0-premium, $0-deductible HMO plans
  • Clear Spring Health — 2 plans · Group 1001-owned HMO
  • Molina Healthcare of Illinois — 1 plan · $0-premium, $0-deductible HMO
  • Devoted Health — 2 plans · PPO/HMO plans with $0 or low deductibles

Where you get care

Hospitals & providers nearby

  • Javon Bea HospitalRockford, IL · CMS 3★ hospital rating
  • Northwestern Medicine McHenryMcHenry, IL · CMS 5★ hospital rating

Plus roughly 8 family-medicine providers and 6 pharmacies in the Belvidere area — check that yours are in-network before you enroll.

Sources: CMS Hospital Compare · NPPES NPI Registry.

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See your Boone County Medicare plans now

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This is educational information, not medical, legal, or insurance advice, and not a recommendation of any specific plan. Hougom Insurance Agency is a licensed independent insurance agency (NPN 20742808) and a Third-Party Marketing Organization (TPMO) under CMS guidelines — we are not connected with or endorsed by the U.S. government or the federal Medicare program. We do not offer every plan available in your area. Any information we provide is limited to the plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) for a complete list of options.

Everything we cover · Boone County

One agency, every line, right here in Boone County

Beyond Medicare, we write every other line of insurance for Boone County households and businesses. Each line below links to the full coverage details.

ACA & individual health

Marketplace plans, subsidy eligibility, and short-term coverage for households and the self-employed not on an employer plan.

Explore individual health insurance →

Life, annuities & group benefits

Term and whole life, retirement-income annuities, and employer-sponsored group health, life, dental, and vision for local businesses.

Life insurance →  ·  Annuities →  ·  Group benefits →

Home, auto & farm

Homeowners, auto, and farm insurance for Boone County's farms and rural households — often bundled for savings.

Homeowners →  ·  Auto →  ·  Farm insurance →

Business & bonds

General liability, business owner's policies, and contractor license bonds for Boone County businesses.

Business insurance →  ·  Bonds →

Boone County insurance questions, answered

Does Hougom Insurance Agency serve Boone County, IL?

Yes. Hougom Insurance Agency is licensed in Illinois and Wisconsin and serves Boone County — including Belvidere and Poplar Grove — for every line we write: Medicare, ACA/individual health, life insurance, annuities, group benefits, and home/auto/farm/business coverage.

How many Medicare Advantage plans are available in Boone County for 2026?

For 2026, 29 Medicare Advantage and MA-PD plans are available in Boone County across 9 carriers, including 22 $0-premium options. The highest CMS star rating offered locally is 4.5★.

Which hospitals serve Boone County residents?

Boone County doesn't have a hospital of its own — Belvidere sits roughly equidistant between Rockford (Javon Bea Hospital, Saint Anthony Medical Center, UW Health) and Northwestern Medicine McHenry, and residents use both depending on which network their plan covers. Network participation varies by specific Medicare Advantage plan — we confirm your doctors and preferred hospital are covered before you enroll.

Do you write farm and agricultural insurance in Boone County?

Yes. Boone County's farmland — much of it now bordered by growing logistics and manufacturing development around Belvidere — needs coverage a generic homeowners policy doesn't provide. We write farm insurance alongside homeowners, auto, and business coverage, often bundled for working farms.

What's the uninsured rate in Boone County?

An estimated 4.8% of Boone County's civilian population — about 2,544 residents — was uninsured per the U.S. Census Bureau's 2023 American Community Survey. We help close that gap by comparing ACA marketplace plans, including subsidy-eligible options, for Boone County households.

Are Wisconsin and Illinois Medigap rules the same?

No. Wisconsin uses its own state-standardized Medigap system (a required Basic Plan plus optional riders), while Illinois uses the national A–N letter plan system (Plan G, Plan N, and others). Boone County sits close to the Wisconsin border, so if you have family or property on both sides, we're licensed in both states and can explain how each state's rules apply to you.

Talk to a local advisor about Boone County coverage

Free, no pressure — licensed in Illinois and Wisconsin.

Book a free consultation →   (608) 799-8434

Also serving: Jo Daviess County, IL · Stephenson County, IL · Winnebago County, IL · McHenry County, IL · Lake County, IL