The Health Insurance Marketplace, or Exchange, is the new way to shop for and buy health insurance in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
These marketplaces are also referred to as Exchanges or Marketplaces.
If you buy your own insurance, you should use the Marketplace to help you compare health plans and find out if you can get financial help to lower your costs.
You can also use the Marketplace to see if you qualify for Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).
What are the Health Insurance Marketplace (healthcare.gov) deadlines?
You must have health insurance in place by January 1, 2014.
Open enrollment ends March 31, 2014, so sign up as soon as possible for your coverage if you don’t have insurance.
During open enrollment, any adult under age 65 can shop for health insurance on your state’s marketplace (healthcare.gov).
Children with special needs and financial hardships may be eligible for Medicaid benefits; visit healthcare.gov to learn more about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
What is Open Enrollment?
If you are interested in getting coverage through an employer, find out if they will have a Special Enrollment Period after Open Enrollment has ended.
If so, ask when it starts and ends (some companies even run it all year-round), how much coverage costs and whether or not you can purchase insurance through them for yourself and any family members.
You can also contact your state’s marketplace during their SEP. It will explain your options for any remaining time left in 2018 on its website at hhs.gov/healthcare/information-for-you/where-to-get-help/marketplace/.
What if I miss my deadline?
As noted in #1, even if you miss your deadline it’s possible that you could still get coverage.
However, deadlines are often tight and enrollments usually start on a first-come-first-served basis.
The more time passes since you missed your deadline, the greater chance that you’ll be placed in a higher risk pool with fewer options for providers.
For example, many plans start on January 1 and require enrollments to take place between November 15 and December 15. If you fail to sign up before December 15, then it’s very likely that there will only be one provider available on your plan come January 1st—and they may have reached their cap on number of enrollees.
You will have missed out entirely simply because time ran out!
How can I still get covered even if it’s after Open Enrollment?
Open enrollment is basically a period of time when everyone can sign up for new health insurance policies.
If you don’t sign up during open enrollment, you won’t be able to enroll in a plan for another three months (or until open enrollment starts again).
If you have a special circumstance (like losing your job), there are some exceptions—but it’s still best to go through open enrollment.
Here’s what you need to know about obtaining health insurance after open enrollment
how to pay for health insurance on your own
After open enrollment has ended, you may still be able to get health insurance.
However, it’s important to know that there are usually waiting periods before coverage begins for new policyholders who join mid-year.
These waiting periods can last anywhere from 30 days (for individual plans) to six months (for group plans).
If you want insurance now but need coverage soon, then applying during open enrollment will allow you start your policy as soon as possible.
How to check if your health insurance is active online
If you recently signed up for health insurance and it’s set to take effect next month, you might be wondering how to check if your new plan is active online.
Most major plans include an online tool that allows users to access information about their plan, such as details about in-network doctors and pharmacies, coverage limits, and when their next bill is due.
All you need is your username and password—you can find these details on your ID card or by calling customer service.
If you haven’t received a card yet or are having trouble accessing your account online, contact customer service or go see a doctor right away!
Free health insurance
Before you go shopping for health insurance, you’ll need to have some information on hand.
To start, how old are you? If your age is 35 or younger, then good news: you can get affordable health insurance coverage regardless of any preexisting conditions.
If you’re older than 35, though, that’s not quite as simple—and it depends on whether you smoke or not.
That brings us to your next question: do I need health insurance? That really depends on your personal situation. Maybe money isn’t a concern right now and if something were to happen it would be covered by your work benefits; in that case no need for health insurance just yet!
How to apply for medicaid
If you don’t have health insurance, you may be wondering how to get it.
For most of us, acquiring free health insurance is difficult. There are numerous reasons for that: Most states require proof of income or legal residency in order to qualify for Medicaid and CHIP (Children’s Health Insurance Program).
If you’re not in a position where your expenses are low enough or if you haven’t been a citizen long enough, chances are good that you won’t be eligible for any type of assistance.
On top of that, government funding is limited and only available on a first-come, first-served basis; there simply aren’t enough funds available to go around.
Free medical insurance for adults
In order to receive Medicaid benefits, you must be a United States citizen or be eligible for Medicaid under certain non-citizenship categories.
You may also have access to health insurance through your employer or through an individual private health insurance policy purchased on your own (not through an employer) that meets certain criteria and covers: services provided by doctors, dentists, hospitals and other providers who accept assignment; prescription drugs; physician’s services; inpatient hospitalization in state facilities; outpatient hospital services and physician’s services.
The coverage is generally less generous than that of other commercial health insurance policies.
This type of policy is sometimes called Medi-Gap because it typically provides only partial coverage for medical costs until a deductible amount has been met.
How to apply for medicaid
The first step is finding out if you are eligible for Medicaid.
This can be determined by visiting your state’s official website or calling their Medicaid offices directly.
If you are eligible, then you will want to make sure you know how much in monthly premiums and other costs (such as copays) that you may have to pay in order to use Medicaid.
With that information, you will want to make sure that you can afford those costs as well as any alternative options such as purchasing health insurance on your own through a private provider.
If it is determined that there is not an affordable health care option for you, then be sure to apply for Obamacare and learn more about their subsidized plans!