501,000 Illinoisans could get subsidized coverage

A new report estimates half a million Illinois residents are eligible for tax credits to lower the cost of health insurance if they buy it on the marketplace that’s part of President Barack Obama’s health law.

The report from the nonpartisan Kaiser Family Foundation is being released Tuesday. It uses census figures and insurance price data to estimate 501,000 Illinois residents are eligible for subsidized insurance in 2014.

That puts Illinois among the 10 states with the most people eligible.

Texas, California and Florida have the largest estimates, with more than a million in each state qualifying. People with household incomes between about $23,550 and $94,200 for a family of four qualify.

Federal officials say the crippled healthcare.gov website will be fixed by month’s end.