Insurance in Lake County · Northeastern Illinois
Insurance Coverage for Lake County, IL
Lake County is home to roughly 711,885 residents across Waukegan, Libertyville, Lake Forest, and Gurnee. 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, and business coverage, comparing multiple carriers so you're never stuck with one company's price.
By the numbers · Lake County
Quick facts for Lake County Medicare
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 Lake County adults
The right Medicare plan depends on your health. Here's how common key conditions are locally (CDC PLACES, model-based prevalence among 708,760 adults) — a reason to check each plan's drug formulary and specialist network before you enroll.
Source: CDC PLACES Local Data for Better Health (2023).
Plans & stability
Medicare Advantage plans in Lake 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.
| Plan | Carrier | Premium | Drug deductible | CMS rating | Stability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HumanaChoice H7617-018 (PPO) | Humana | $0 | $615 | 4.5★ | Strong (4★+) |
| Aetna Medicare Signature Extra (PPO) | Aetna Medicare | $0 | $615 | 4.5★ | Strong (4★+) |
| Humana Full Access H7617-009 (PPO) | Humana | $0 | $400 | 4.5★ | Strong (4★+) |
| Aetna Medicare Premier (PPO) | Aetna Medicare | $44 | $615 | 4.5★ | Strong (4★+) |
| AARP Medicare Advantage Essentials from UHC IL-8 (HMO-POS) | UnitedHealthcare | $0 | $440 | 4★ | Strong (4★+) |
| AARP Medicare Advantage from UHC IL-2 (HMO-POS) | UnitedHealthcare | $0 | $520 | 4★ | Strong (4★+) |
| AARP Medicare Advantage Extras from UHC IL-9 (HMO-POS) | UnitedHealthcare | $0 | $600 | 4★ | Strong (4★+) |
| HealthSpring Premier (HMO-POS) | HealthSpring | $0 | $200 | 4★ | Strong (4★+) |
| HealthSpring Preferred (HMO) | HealthSpring | $0 | $200 | 4★ | Strong (4★+) |
| HealthSpring Preferred Savings (HMO) | HealthSpring | $0 | $200 | 4★ | Strong (4★+) |
| DEVOTED CORE 001 IL (HMO) | Devoted Health | $0 | $395 | 4★ | Strong (4★+) |
| DEVOTED GIVEBACK 003 IL (HMO) | Devoted Health | $0 | $605 | 4★ | Strong (4★+) |
| AARP Medicare Advantage from UHC IL-0001 (HMO-POS) | UnitedHealthcare | $37 | $440 | 4★ | Strong (4★+) |
| Humana Gold Plus H1468-013 (HMO) | Humana | $0 | $615 | 3.5★ | Average (3.5★) |
| Humana Gold Plus Giveback H1468-021 (HMO) | Humana | $0 | $615 | 3.5★ | Average (3.5★) |
| AARP Medicare Advantage from UHC IL-5 (PPO) | UnitedHealthcare | $0 | $600 | 3.5★ | Average (3.5★) |
| Blue Cross Medicare Advantage Secure (HMO) | Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois | $0 | $450 | 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★) |
| DEVOTED CHOICE 001 IL (PPO) | Devoted Health | $0 | $395 | 3.5★ | Average (3.5★) |
| DEVOTED CHOICE 010 IL (PPO) | Devoted Health | $0 | $355 | 3.5★ | Average (3.5★) |
| Aetna Medicare Signature (PPO) | Aetna Medicare | $0 | $615 | 3.5★ | Average (3.5★) |
| HumanaChoice H5216-283 (PPO) | Humana | $5.2 | $615 | 3.5★ | Average (3.5★) |
| AARP Medicare Advantage from UHC IL-0004 (PPO) | UnitedHealthcare | $68 | $600 | 3.5★ | Average (3.5★) |
| HumanaChoice H5216-013 (PPO) | Humana | $87 | $615 | 3.5★ | Average (3.5★) |
| Wellcare Simple (HMO-POS) | Wellcare | $0 | $615 | 3★ | Below average (<3.5★) |
| Wellcare Simple Value (HMO-POS) | Wellcare | $0 | $615 | 3★ | Below average (<3.5★) |
| Aetna Medicare Prime (HMO-POS) | Aetna Medicare | $0 | $615 | 3★ | Below average (<3.5★) |
| Blue Cross Medicare Advantage Basic (HMO) | Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois | $0 | $450 | 3★ | Below average (<3.5★) |
| Blue Cross Medicare Advantage Basic Plus (HMO-POS) | Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois | $0 | $450 | 3★ | Below average (<3.5★) |
| HealthSpring True Choice Savings (PPO) | HealthSpring | $0 | $200 | 3★ | Below average (<3.5★) |
| HealthSpring True Choice (PPO) | HealthSpring | $0 | $200 | 3★ | Below average (<3.5★) |
| Blue Cross Medicare Advantage Premier Plus (HMO-POS) | Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois | $83 | $450 | 3★ | Below average (<3.5★) |
| Blue Cross Medicare Advantage Choice Plus (PPO) | Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois | $90 | $450 | 3★ | Below average (<3.5★) |
| HumanaChoice R5361-002 (Regional PPO) | Humana | $103 | $615 | 3★ | Below average (<3.5★) |
| Blue Cross Medicare Advantage Choice Premier (PPO) | Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois | $155 | $300 | 3★ | Below average (<3.5★) |
| Zing Choice IL (HMO) | Zing Health | $0 | $0 | 2.5★ | Below average (<3.5★) |
| Aetna Medicare Signature (HMO-POS) | Aetna Medicare | $0 | $615 | — | 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 Lake metro
- Humana — 9 plans · HMO, PPO, Regional PPO, and PFFS options, including two 4.5★ plans
- UnitedHealthcare — 6 plans · AARP-branded HMO-POS and PPO plans
- Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois — 6 plans · HCSC-owned; HMO and PPO plans
- HealthSpring — 5 plans · HCSC-owned brand; HMO and PPO plans, up to 4.0★
- Aetna Medicare — 5 plans · CVS Health-owned; HMO-POS and PPO plans, including a 4.5★ plan
- Devoted Health — 4 plans · PPO/HMO plans, up to 4.0★
- Wellcare — 2 plans · Centene-owned; $0-premium HMO-POS plans
- Zing Health — 1 plan · $0-premium, $0-deductible HMO
Where you get care
Hospitals & providers nearby
- Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital — Lake Forest, IL · CMS 5★ hospital rating
- Advocate Condell Medical Center — Libertyville, IL · CMS 4★ hospital rating
- Vista Medical Center East — Waukegan, IL · CMS 2★ hospital rating
Plus roughly 6 family-medicine providers and 5 pharmacies in the Waukegan area — check that yours are in-network before you enroll.
Sources: CMS Hospital Compare · NPPES NPI Registry.
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 · Lake County
One agency, every line, right here in Lake County
Beyond Medicare, we write every other line of insurance for Lake 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.
Life, annuities & group benefits
Term and whole life, retirement-income annuities, and employer-sponsored group health, life, dental, and vision for Lake County businesses.
Home & auto
Homeowners and auto insurance for Lake County households, comparing multiple carriers so you get real options, not just one company's rates.
Business & bonds
General liability, business owner's policies, and contractor license bonds for Lake County businesses.
Lake County insurance questions, answered
Does Hougom Insurance Agency serve Lake County, IL?
Yes. Hougom Insurance Agency is licensed in Illinois and Wisconsin and serves Lake County — including Waukegan, Libertyville, Lake Forest, and Gurnee — for every line we write: Medicare, ACA/individual health, life insurance, annuities, group benefits, and home/auto/business coverage.
How many Medicare Advantage plans are available in Lake County for 2026?
For 2026, 38 Medicare Advantage and MA-PD plans are available in Lake County across 8 carriers, including 29 $0-premium options. The highest CMS star rating offered locally is 4.5★.
Which hospitals serve Lake County?
Lake County has several hospital systems, including Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital, Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville, and Vista Medical Center East in Waukegan. Each Medicare Advantage plan has its own network — we verify your specific doctors and preferred hospital are covered before you enroll.
Can you help a Lake County business with group health benefits?
Yes. We design and quote employer group health, life, dental, vision, and disability benefits for Lake County businesses, comparing fully-insured and level-funded options across multiple carriers to fit your team and budget.
What's the uninsured rate in Lake County?
An estimated 6.9% of Lake County's civilian population — about 47,962 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 Lake 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). Lake County borders Wisconsin directly at Kenosha, 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 Lake County coverage
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Book a free consultation → (608) 799-8434
Also serving: Jo Daviess County, IL · Stephenson County, IL · Winnebago County, IL · Boone County, IL · McHenry County, IL