What You Need to Know About Obamacare for 2024

Are you confused about what's going on with the Affordable Care Act aka Obamacare? (Yes, they're the same thing!) Here are answers to common questions, including:

  • What are the enrollment dates in my state? 
  • Will I pay a penalty if I don't have health insurance?
  • What do Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) plans cover?
  • How much does health insurance cost?
  • How do I sign up?

Here are some basics to keep in mind:

Open enrollment for 2024 coverage in most states begins November 1, 2023 and ends January 15 2024

residents can sign up for 2024 health coverage from November 1, 2023 to January 15, 2024. For most people, if you enroll by December 15, your coverage will begin on January 1, 2024. If you enroll after December 15, your coverage will begin on February 1.

Enrollment for 2023 health coverage has ended, but you can get covered for the rest of the year if you qualify for a special enrollment period, including job or income loss. 

If you are currently uninsured, you can use the marketplace exchange to compare plans and enroll in a plan that meets your needs. 

If you already have health insurance, you will be automatically re-enrolled in your existing plan if it is still available. Even if your plan is continuing, open enrollment is a good time to review your coverage, compare plans, and switch to a new one if you find a better option. If your insurance company stops offering your current health plan, they may "map" you onto a new plan. In this case, it's even more important for you to investigate your options to be sure you get the best plan for you. 

To learn more about enrollment, see How To Sign Up for Obamacare in your state.

Once open enrollment for 2024 health plans ends in most states, you may still be able to get covered.  If you’ve lost your job or significant income in the past 60 days or have another qualifying event, you might get a special enrollment period (SEP). A SEP allows you to sign up for a new health insurance plan or change your current one outside the open enrollment window. Or, if your income is low enough to qualify for Medicaid, you can sign up at any time. Choose your state from the list to learn more.

New premium subsidies are available. In 2021, President Biden signed the American Rescue Plan Act to provide billions of dollars of relief to Americans affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Among many other benefits, the law increased health insurance premium subsidies, which are available through 2025.

You won’t face a federal tax penalty for going without health insurance in 2024—but there are many other downsides to being uninsured. If you don’t have health insurance coverage, you won’t have to pay a penalty when you file your federal taxes, though a handful of states have passed their own insurance requirements with penalties. No matter where you live, think carefully about whether it makes sense to forego insurance. A medical crisis could knock the financial wind from your sails and do more damage than the penalty would.

For local details, choose your state from the list on this page.





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