The state of Illinois will receive about $380,000 this year to fund navigators who help enroll people and families in health insurance plans on the marketplace established under the Affordable Care Act. That’s compared to the more than $3 million the state received to fund those positions in 2013, the year the program launched, according to an announcement made last week by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). 

The rising costs of insurance plans available through the federal healthcare.gov website may make them unaffordable for some people in Missouri and Illinois.

Choices will be fewer for health insurance marketplace customers shopping for 2017 coverage in many parts of President Barack Obama's home state.