CHICAGO – An Illinois Democrat who has led work on implementing a key part of President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul said the state will need to partner with the federal government for its insurance exchange.

Rep. Frank Mautino said this week that Illinois won’t be able to meet a Nov. 16 deadline for the online insurance marketplace and must consider a new option – a federal-state partnership – to get ready for its first year if the U.S. Supreme Court upholds the law.

That would put Obama’s home state among a majority of states limping unsteadily toward implementing the law. The court is expected to rule on the reforms Thursday, and could overturn or dismantle the law, leaving states to determine how to proceed.