Obtaining health insurance under the Affordable Care Act can be confusing and overwhelming for those who have not done so previously. There is a lot of information to weed through and many plans available to choose from. If you are seeking health insurance through the Affordable Care Act, keep reading for some helpful information on the plans that may be available to you.
Who is Eligible?
To be eligible for Obama Care insurance plans, you must live in the United States, be a U.S. citizen or national (you must be present in the country legally) and you cannot be currently incarcerated. People covered by Medicare are not eligible for Obama Care.
When Can People Enroll?
Obama Care has an open enrollment period each year during which eligible individuals can enroll in an insurance plan through the marketplace. Open enrollment is typically from November 1 through December 15 of each year. If you do not enroll during this period of time, you will have to wait until the next year to enroll unless you have recently undergone certain life events. Those events include losing previous insurance coverage, getting married, moving, or having a baby. Contrarily, you can enroll in Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) at any time and do not need to wait for the open season.
How Does it Work?
Although you can enroll for Obama Care through the marketplace, your monthly premium will be paid to the insurance company you select through the program. You do not pay the marketplace itself. You will need to follow four basic steps to sign up for Obama Care via the marketplace.
- Make a marketplace account
- Prepare your income and other required documentation
- Check eligibility results immediately after submitting your application
- Enroll in a plan
Creating your own marketplace account will be fairly straightforward if you have created other accounts online in the past. Preparing your income and other documentation could prove time-consuming. Make sure to go through the checklist to ensure you have gathered all necessary paperwork before trying to submit your application. Once you submit your application, you will be able to see whether you qualify for assistance in paying premiums, deductibles or co-pays. Additionally, you will find out if you or your children qualify for free healthcare through Medicaid or CHIP.
What Happens Next?
Before your coverage can begin you must pay your first month’s premium to the insurance company you selected. Once you have been approved and selected your plan through the marketplace, you will receive your health insurance cards in the mail and additional information about your insurance plan. You can now begin to use your health insurance.
If you have not used Obama Care health insurance in the past, make sure you understand the process before embarking upon it. First, understand who is eligible to receive health insurance coverage, then know when you can enroll, how to enroll and when you can begin using your new health insurance. Don’t forget to pay your monthly premium directly to the insurance company you chose.
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