Illinois residents will pay an average of 78% more across the state for health insurance through the Affordable Care Act exchange if Congress does not extend enhanced premium tax credits — the issue at the heart of the current government shutdown — state regulators said Monday.

Illinois residents who have health insurance through the exchange will begin receiving letters this week from the Illinois Department of Insurance outlining how their costs may increase next year, said Morgan Winters, director of Get Covered Illinois, the state’s new marketplace for Affordable Care Act plans.

About 91% of Illinois residents with exchange plans get the enhanced premium tax credits, which lower the monthly costs of their health insurance, said Ann Gillespie, director of the Illinois Department of In

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