- Open enrollment for the Affordable Care Act, also called Obamacare, runs from Nov. 1 through Jan. 15, 2024, with most states following this timeline.
- Consumers can sign up online through HealthCare.gov or a state Marketplace, by calling the federal or state help line, or through an assister, agent or broker.
- Subsidies are available to some people to lower their monthly premiums or out-of-pocket costs. Many people will pay $10 or less per month for their plan.
The Affordable Care Act’s 2024 open enrollment period runs from Nov. 1 through Jan. 15, 2024, allowing people to apply for new health insurance coverage or make changes to their existing plan.
Last year, nearly 16.4 million Americans signed up for or were automatically re-enrolled in coverage on HealthCare.gov or through the state-based Marketplaces. That’s more than double the number who signed up during the first open enrollment for the Affordable Care Act (ACA), also called Obamacare, in 2014.
And thanks in part to the Inflation Reduction Act, 4 of 5 HealthCare.gov enrollees will be able to find coverage for next year for $10 or less per month, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
Consumers can go online, call, or seek help from an assister, broker or agent to learn about 2024 coverage options, see if they qualify for subsidies, and sign up for a plan.
Here are some other things to know if you’re looking for health insurance coverage for next year.
Open enrollment on HealthCare.gov runs from Nov. 1 through Jan. 15, 2024. Because Jan. 15 is a federal holiday — Martin Luther King Jr. Day — the deadline has been extended to midnight Jan. 16 (5 am EST on Jan. 17).
You have to enroll by Dec. 15 for your coverage to start Jan. 1. If you enroll after Dec. 15, but before the January deadline, your coverage will start Feb. 1.
Katie Charleson, communications officer at Silver State Health Insurance Exchange, which operates Nevada’s online Marketplace, recommends not putting off signing up for a health plan.
“Get it out of the way — sooner rather than later is always advised — especially since the holidays are a really busy time of year,” she told Healthline.
Most states follow the same timeline, although in California, it runs through Jan. 31, and in Idaho, it runs from Oct. 15 through Dec. 15.
To see the deadlines for your state, check with your state’s health insurance Marketplace website or go to healthinsurance.org.
Charleson said another reason to apply early is that if you miss the final deadline, you can only apply for health insurance through HealthCare.gov or a state Marketplace if you have a qualifying life event, like getting married, having a baby, or losing other health coverage.
“At that point, you would have 60 days from that life event to enroll in coverage,” she said.
Two types of Obamacare subsidies may be available to you:
- A premium tax credit that lowers the amount you pay each month for your health insurance plan.
- Cost-sharing reductions reduce the amount you must pay for out-of-pocket costs such as deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance. You will also have a lower “out-of-pocket maximum,” the total you must pay in a year. If you qualify for this reduction, you must enroll in a plan in the silver category to receive this benefit.
A deductible is the amount you pay for medical expenses before your plan starts covering them. For example, if you have a $750 deductible, you pay the first $750 in medical costs (except for free preventive services), and then your plan kicks in.
Copayments and coinsurance are the payments you make each time you get medical care. For example, you may have to pay a $10 copayment for each doctor visit.
You will find out if you qualify for either subsidy after you apply at HealthCare.gov or through a state Marketplace. You can also use an online calculator at HealthCare.gov to estimate how much you might get in subsidies.
Subsidies are based on the expected income for all members of your household who are required to file a federal tax return. This includes your spouse if you are married, and any dependents you claim on your tax return.
If your income is low enough, you may qualify for Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).
“If you apply through Nevada Health Link, and we find that you’re eligible for Medicaid, we will send your information over there so you can fill out [a Medicaid] application,” Charleson said. “So we’ll make sure you on the right program.”
For people who are self-employed or have irregular income, Charleson recommends making the best guess about your income for next year.
Report any changes in income as soon as possible, because this can affect the size of your subsidy. If you fail to report an increase in income, you could have to pay money back when you file your federal tax return.
“So if you update your income throughout the year, you can avoid issues at tax time when you’re reconciling,” said Charleson.
There are four categories of plans in the Marketplace — bronze, silver, gold and platinum. Each has different costs and different benefits.
However, they all offer the same essential benefits, including free preventive services, outpatient care, inpatient/hospital care, mental health services, pregnancy and maternity care, and prescription drug benefits.
Your choice of level will affect your costs for healthcare services. For example, Bronze plans have the lowest premiums but usually higher out-of-pocket costs, such as deductibles, copayments and co-insurance. If you select a plan with a higher premium, those out-of-pocket costs may be lower.
Some plans also offer other benefits, such as:
- dental
- vision
- weight loss programs
- diabetes management
- birth control coverage
When choosing a plan, think about what level of care your household will need. If you have a current primary care doctor or are seeing medical specialists, check to see if they are included in the plan’s network. Also, make sure your current medications are included in the plan’s prescription drug coverage.
Even if you like your current plan, it’s a good idea to review what it offers next year — premiums, out-of-pocket costs, in-network doctors and hospitals, and other benefits may have changed.
While premiums for some plans may go down next year, many plans are raising them. According to a Peterson-KFF Health System Tracker initial review of rate requests, the average increase for plans is 6%, with most increases falling between 2% and 10%.
Perry Braun, president & CEO of the Benefit Advisors Network, recommends that you prepare a financial plan for next year, including expected medical expenses before choosing a plan.
“Compare that to the out-of-pocket costs and contributions to the plan to determine how best to maximize the benefits and minimize your expenses,” he told Healthline.
You can find the answers to many of your questions at HealthCare.gov, or by calling the call center at 1-800-318-2596.
You can also find an agent, broker or assister by clicking on the “find local help” button on the Healthcare.gov website. State healthcare Marketplaces have similar tools.
Assisters can help you apply and enroll for a health plan through HealthCare.gov or a state Marketplace. However, they are not licensed as insurance agents or brokers, so they can’t make specific recommendations about plans.
Charleson said Nevada, which runs its own Marketplace, has a network of almost 900 assisters who can help people in the state find and sign up for a plan. Their assistance is free.
“They are the experts,” she said. “They can make sure that whichever plan you choose, you’re getting one that’s going to work best for you.”
Agents and brokers, who are licensed by the state, can also show you Marketplace plans. But they might also offer you plans outside of the Marketplace or plans that don’t meet the ACA requirements, such as short-term insurance.
If you qualify for a premium tax credit or cost-share reductions, you will need to enroll through the Marketplace to get those savings. Again, the cost-reduction subsidy is only available if you sign up for a plan in the silver category.
The Affordable Care Act’s 2024 open enrollment period allows people to sign up for health insurance coverage or switch to a new plan. To ensure that you have coverage on the first day of the year, sign up early, typically by Dec. 15.
People can sign up through the federal government’s HealthCare.gov website. Some states run their own health insurance Marketplace. People can also call the federal or state helpline, or contact a local assister, broker or agent to find help signing up for a plan.
Subsidies are available, based on household income, that can lower your monthly premium and out-of-pocket costs for medical visits, prescription drugs and other care. People with low income may also qualify for Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).