4 things to do before your Affordable Care Act (ACA) enrollment

Looking for health insurance during the Affordable Care Act (ACAACAHealth care reform law with 3 goals: make health insurance more available, expand Medicaid, and lower the costs of health care.
Read more ») enrollment enrollment The process by which an eligible person becomes a member of an insurance plan.
Read more »period?

Open enrollment begins November 1.¹ And there’s a few things you can do right now to get ready, whether you’re new to ACA enrollment or plan to enroll enroll The process by which an eligible person becomes a member of an insurance plan.
Read more »again.

• If you’re new to the ACA enrollment process, you’ll have a lot to learn about providers, plans, premiumspremiumsThe amount you pay for your health insurance every month.
  Read more »premiumsThe amount you pay for your health insurance every month.
  Read more », networksnetworksThe facilities, providers and suppliers your health insurer or plan has contracted with to provide health care services.
  Read more », and more.
• If you’ve gone through the ACA enrollment process before, rates can change, plans can change, ACA subsidies can change, along with other things from year to year that you’ll need to evaluate.

Either way, you can simplify the ACA enrollment process by following a few simple steps to help you find a plan that meets your needs and your budget.

Ready to get started?

Here are 4 things to help you with the ACA enrollment process:

1. Assess your salary for the coming year

Why? Premium tax credits, or subsidies, are based on your adjusted gross income for the coming year.²

• Assessing your income will help you figure out the amount of subsidies you qualify for and what plans best meet your budget and needs.
• You can use a subsidysubsidyHealth coverage available at reduced or no cost for people with incomes below certain levels.
  Read more » calculator to estimate whether you might qualify for a premium premium The amount you pay for your health insurance every month.
  Read more »credit.³
• Estimating your salary or annual income can also help prevent you from overpaying for your insurance

Will an ACA plan help you save money on health insurance? Probably. According to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, last year…⁴

• 9 out of 10 people using the Healthcare Marketplace were eligible for savings
• 4 out of 5 people found a plan through the Healthcare Marketplace for $10 or less a month after subsidies
• 96 percent of consumers looking for health insurance through the Marketplace were able to choose plans from at least three health insurers

2. Call doctors & check provider directories

Insurance companies offer provider directories that make it easier to find in-network network The facilities, providers and suppliers your health insurer or plan has contracted with to provide health care services.
Read more »doctors.

• If you already have a doctor you want to keep working with, be sure you check your current or new plan’s directory.⁵
• You can also call doctors’ offices to see if they’re still accepting a specific plan,
• Confirm that your providers accept the plan and are in network before enrolling.

3. Check for new ACA plans in your area

You can check for plans in your state and get information about premiums, deductiblesdeductiblesThe amount you pay for covered health care services before your insurance pays.
Read more », co-pays, networks, and more. Here’s how:

• Go to Explore Affordable Care Act health insurance plans
• Enter your City, State or ZIP code, and select Find Plans
• Use the filters for Coverage Level and Plan Type to narrow your search and review plans available in your area

For 2025, an estimated 324 insurers will offer plans in the Healthcare Marketplace across 50 states and Washington D.C., which is similar to last year.⁶

However, some changes you can expect during ACA enrollment this year include:

• A median increase of 7 percent for plan premiums⁶
• Data suggests the primary reason for premium increases include inflation, hospital staffing shortages, and an increased demand for weight-loss drugs⁶
• Most states will offer one or more ACA health plans with different premiums based on the type of plan: bronze, silver, gold and platinum plans⁶

 4. Use all the subsidies available to you

Affordable Care Act enrollees who make below certain income limits may qualify for “extra savings,” known as cost-sharing reductions.⁷

• These extra benefits benefits The health care items or services covered under a health insurance plan.
  Read more »lower your out-of-pocket costsout-of-pocket costsYour expenses for medical care that aren't reimbursed by insurance.
  Read more » (such as deductibles, out-of-pocket spending limits, and copays).
• If you qualify for cost-sharing reductions, you must enroll in a silver plan to get the extra savings.
• If you enroll in a different plan type (bronze, gold, platinum), you can still receive tax credits, but you won’t get the extra savings.
• In addition to federal subsidies, nine states offer additional subsidies to help lower premiums⁸

Want some help with the ACA enrollment process?

We can help. Find and compare plans in your area. Give us a call at (888) 458-0648 to speak with a licensed insurance agent who specializes in ACA enrollment, or find a licensed insurance agent in your area who can help you review your options.