The Health Insurance Marketplace, in six steps

Who the Marketplace is for

The Health Insurance Marketplace is the government-run place to compare and buy individual health plans. It's built for people who don't have coverage through a job, Medicare, Medicaid, or CHIP (the Children's Health Insurance Program).

To use it, you need to live in the United States, be a U.S. citizen or national (or be lawfully present), and not be incarcerated.

1. Know the Open Enrollment dates

On HealthCare.gov, Open Enrollment runs from November 1 to January 15. When you enroll decides when your coverage starts: sign up by December 15 to be covered starting January 1, or by January 15 to be covered starting February 1.

If your state runs its own Marketplace, its dates can differ, so check your state's site.

2. Outside Open Enrollment, you need a reason

Once Open Enrollment closes, you can get a plan or switch plans only in two cases:

• You have a life change that qualifies you for a Special Enrollment Period, like losing other coverage, moving, getting married, or having a baby.
• You qualify for Medicaid or CHIP. You can enroll in those any time of year, and coverage can start right away.

3. Check whether you qualify for savings

Based on your expected household income for the year, you may qualify for a premium tax credit that lowers your monthly bill, or for extra savings that lower your deductible, copays, and coinsurance. You might also qualify for Medicaid, or your children might qualify for CHIP even if you don't.

4. Know what every plan covers

• The 10 essential health benefits, including prescription drugs, emergency services, hospital stays, lab work, and mental health and substance use disorder services.
• Preventive services at no cost to you when you see a provider in your plan's network.
• Pre-existing conditions. A plan can't turn you down or charge you more because of a health condition you already have.

5. Pick the way to apply that suits you

You can apply online, by phone, with a paper application, through an agent or broker, through a certified enrollment partner website, or with free help from someone in your community.

6. Pay your first premium

Once you pick a plan, you pay your premium directly to the insurance company, not to the Marketplace. If your plan has a premium, your coverage won't start until that first payment goes through.