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ACA (Affordable Care Act) - Health Insurance

Resources for library users about the Affordable Care Act and insurance choices

Getting Help

Call Center: Get Your Healthcare Questions Answered

People who have questions about the Marketplace can get their questions answered by calling 1-800-318-2596 (TTY: 1-855-889-4325). This call center is open 24/7 and is available in 150 languages.

Starting October 1, 2013, consumers in all states were able to access affordable health insurance options through the Health Insurance Marketplace. Some states set up a State-based Marketplace, while other states will work with the federal government in a State Partnership Marketplace and the remaining states opted for the Federally-facilitated Marketplace.

No matter what state they live in, consumers can receive help as they apply for and choose new insurance through the Marketplace.

Open Enrollment for the 2024 plan year begins November 1, 2023 and individuals will again be able to provide assistance to consumers in a number of different ways: by becoming Navigators, in-person assistance personnel, or certified application counselors. In addition, agents and brokers will still be able to help consumers enroll in health insurance through the Marketplace.

Special Enrollment Periods

You can apply for insurance or changes outside of the Open Enrollment period if there are qualifying events in your life (or in some complex situations)

Qualifying events [you must apply within 60 days of the event]:

  • Marriage or divorce
  • Having a baby, adopting a child, or placing a child for adoption or foster care
  • Moving your residence, gaining citizenship, leaving incarceration
  • Losing other health coverage
  • Change in income or household status that affects eligibility for premium tax credits or cost-sharing reductions for people enrolled in the Marketplace
  • Indian status as a member of a federally recognized tribe

Complex situations include:

  • Exceptional circumstances
  • Misinformation or misrepresentation
  • Unresolved casework
  • Medicaid/Medicare transfers
  • Errors (Enrollment errors, system errors related to immigration status, display errors on HealthCare.gov, error messages, or other system errors)

Navigators/In Person Counselors

Navigators have a vital role in helping consumers prepare electronic and paper applications to establish eligibility and enroll in coverage through the Marketplaces and potentially qualify for an insurance affordability program. They also provide outreach and education to raise awareness about the Marketplace, and refer consumers to health insurance ombudsman and consumer assistance programs when necessary. Navigators play a role in all types of Marketplaces, are funded through state and federal grant programs, and must complete comprehensive training. - See more at: http://pld.dpi.wi.gov/pld_aca#sthash.J5LEQ1lG.dpuf

Navigators have a vital role in helping consumers prepare electronic and paper applications to establish eligibility and enroll in coverage through the Marketplaces and potentially qualify for an insurance affordability program. They also provide outreach and education to raise awareness about the Marketplace, and refer consumers to health insurance ombudsman and consumer assistance programs when necessary. Navigators play a role in all types of Marketplaces, are funded through state and federal grant programs, and must complete comprehensive training.

If you have employer provided insurance

If you have job-based health insurance you like, you can keep it. You may be able to change to Marketplace coverage if you wish, but you probably won't qualify for a premium tax credit or other savings.

You can ask your employer if it plans to offer health insurance. If not, you may need to get insurance through the Marketplace or from other sources.