Don’t Forget Obamacare Open Enrollment Deadlines
Whether you’re one of the estimated 35 million Americans enrolled under the Affordable Care Act or you’re applying for a health plan through the marketplace for the first time, it’s time to think about your coverage for 2023. With the registration period fast approaching, here’s what you need to know about applying for Obamacare.
What is Obamacare?
As a reminder, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) is a healthcare reform law passed in March 2010 during the Obama administration, also known as “Obamacare”.
In addition to expanding Medicaid, the law also made health insurance more accessible and affordable, allowing people to purchase coverage on the market and offering cheaper plans for households with incomes between 100% and 400% of the federal poverty level .
When is the registration open?
The Obamacare open enrollment period begins on Tuesday, November 1 (one week from today) and runs until January 15, 2023 . If you are considering purchasing health insurance through the ACA for 2023, now is the time to do so.
Of course, situations can arise throughout the year that can change your health insurance needs, so if you encounter what the government considers a “life-changing” event, you may be eligible for special enrollment outside of open enrollment dates. Here are some examples of life-changing events : you or someone in your family gets married, dies, or becomes a parent, or if you move to a new zip code, lose your existing health insurance, become a US citizen, or are released from custody.
How to apply for Obamacare
First of all, you need to find out if you are eligible to purchase a health plan through the ACA. You can do this by going to health.gov/screener and entering your zip code. Some states have their own health insurance websites, so you may be redirected there.
From there, you’ll answer a few questions about your income and your family members, and then find out if you’re eligible to apply for full-price or reduced-price coverage. At the time of this writing, the check page is still set up to see if people qualify for a special enrollment period rather than the upcoming enrollment for 2023, but that should change on or before November 1st. For now, there are a few things you can do. do to prepare, including reviewing the types of health insurance plans available on the market, learning how to estimate your income for your application, and gathering the documents you’ll need.