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The Health Insurance Marketplace: Getting Ready To Enroll

To prepare to enroll, you can learn about types of health coverage, research your questions, and figure out what you need to know before you start your application. The Health Insurance Marketplace will help you get coverage that meets your needs and fits your budget. Coverage can start as soon as January 1, 2014.

  • Get your options and information. Find out about the Marketplace in your state. Here's how it works: If your state runs its Marketplace, you'll use your state's Web site to apply for coverage, compare your options, and enroll. If the federal government runs your state's Marketplace, you'll use this Web site, https://www.HealthCare.gov.
  • Sign up for e-mail or text updates about the Marketplace. You will be informed when there's important new information about the Marketplace, and will be sent timely reminders about important dates.
  • Gather basic information about your household income. Most people using the Marketplace will qualify for lower costs on monthly premiums or lower out-of-pocket costs. To find out how much savings you're eligible for, you'll need to provide income information, like the kind you get on your W-2, current pay stubs, or your tax return.
  • Set your budget. There will be different types of health plans to meet a variety of needs and budgets. You'll need to figure out how much you want to spend on premiums each month.
  • Make sure you understand how coverage works, including things like premiums, deductibles, out-of-pocket maximums, copayments, and coinsurance. You'll want to consider these details while you're looking for health insurance.
  • Learn about different types of health coverage. Through the Marketplace, you'll be able to choose a health plan that gives you the right balance of costs and coverage. You can be better prepared if you understand the types of coverage you'll choose from.
  • Make a list of questions you have before it's time to choose your health plan.
  • Ask your employer if it plans to offer health insurance in 2014. If not, you may need to get insurance through the Marketplace or from other sources in 2014. If you don't have coverage, you may have to pay a fee.
  • Find local help. In all states, there will be people trained and certified to help you understand your health coverage options and enroll in a plan. They will be known by different names, depending on who provides the service and where they are located. All will provide similar kinds of help:
    • Navigators
    • Application assisters
    • Certified application counselors
    • Government agencies, such as state Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) offices
    Insurance agents and brokers can also help you with your application and choices. Visit https://localhelp.healthcare.gov/ to find help in your area. You can search by city and state or zip code to see a list of local organizations with contact information, office hours, and types of help offered, such as non-English language support, Medicaid or CHIP, and Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP). These organizations can assist you in finding the kind of help that works for you.
  • Get help with a Marketplace question. If you have questions about the Health Insurance Marketplace, you can call 1-800-318-2596, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, HealthCare.gov. (n.d.). How can I get ready to enroll in the Marketplace? Retrieved May 31, 2015, from https://www.healthcare.gov/

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