Knowing that your healthcare costs are covered for the year ahead can be a big relief. Thankfully, millions of Americans have access to health insurance through the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The ACA’s marketplace lays out your health insurance options so you can shop for a plan that best fits your needs. You can also learn […]

If you follow the news, you know that federal governing constantly changes. What was done one way today could be done much differently tomorrow. That can also apply to Affordable Care Act (ACA) health plans, which the government sells on its federal marketplace. So if you’re thinking about renewing your plan or buying an ACA […]

The 2023 Open Enrollment Period (OEP) begins November 1, 2022, and ends January 15, 2023, in most states. The chart below shows the 2023 OEP dates for the states that use the federal ACA exchange. Coverage begins January 1. If you have a Special Enrollment Period, coverage will begin the first day of the month […]

Want to renew the Affordable Care Act (ACA) insurance plan you had last year? It’s the easiest way to go. Right? If your plan provided you with the health insurance you needed for healthcare, doctor’s visits, medications, and other healthcare needs, automatic re-enrollment might make sense. Were the premiums and out-of-pocket expenses affordable? Did you […]

If you’re reading this story, we’re going to assume that you missed the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Open Enrollment deadline. If you’re keeping track, the 2022 Open Enrollment Period ended for most people on January 15, 2022, in most states. Or, maybe you’re in a state whose deadline was January 31 and that deadline slipped […]

Losing your job comes with many headaches, including a change in health insurance in many cases. COBRA coverage is one option, but so is a plan under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). So how do you know which one to choose? The decision may be easier than you think. What’s the difference between COBRA and ACA? It may seem like you’re […]

If you are one of millions of Americans who bought health insurance through a government exchange, filing your taxes could be slightly more complicated when tax season occurs. Different rules also apply depending on which U.S. state you live in. HealthMarkets can help explain the basics of the Affordable Care Act and taxes. IRS Form […]

While many Americans once lacked insurance coverage to pay for mental health treatment, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) has helped change that. Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about ACA mental health coverage. Do ACA Plans Cover Mental Health? The Affordable Care Act covers mental health and substance abuse disorder services. One of […]

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) has garnered a lot of debate since its implementation in 2010. The market continues to change as the healthcare reform debate continues. Initially, many health insurance companies—lacking the information they needed to ensure their financial stability—left the ACA’s marketplaces. As the marketplace stabilized, some companies returned, and others continue to […]

Since 2014, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) has mandated that insurance plans cover 10 specific services. This mandatory list of services applies to many individual health plans or plans offered through the small-group marketplace (employers with up to 50 employees). Because these general services have been deemed “essential,” they are known as the 10 Essential […]

A platinum plan is one of four healthcare coverage categories, or “metal levels,” you can purchase through the individual marketplace. Although platinum plan health insurance often has the most expensive monthly premiums out of the four metal levels, these plans provide guaranteed coverage for certain services and have the lowest copays and deductibles. Keep reading […]

What Is a Gold Plan? A gold plan, also known as an Affordable Care Act (ACA) gold plan, is a metal level plan that provides a higher level of coverage in exchange for higher premiums. In 2021, gold plans are especially valuable because some of these high-coverage plans have lower premiums than plans that offer […]