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You can enroll in a Marketplace health plan for 2024 starting November 1, but don’t wait to get ready. Start preparing now to make enrollment faster and easier. 

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5 tips to get ready to enroll: 

• Review the 4 simple steps to enroll.
• Use this checklist (PDF, 189 KB) to get what you need before you start your application. This way you’ll be ready when the Marketplace asks for basic information about you and your household.
• Get an idea if you’ll qualify for savings — most people do! 
• Understand why having health insurance is important. Health insurance covers unexpected medical costs and offers many other important benefits, like preventive care and mental health coverage.
• Learn how to choose the right plan. Knowing just a few things before you compare plans can help you choose. 

Start with more tips to help you get ready to apply for 2024 — don’t miss out on affordable coverage!

It’s important to get the flu shot to protect you and your family from this potentially serious disease. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that everyone 6 months and older get a flu shot by the end of October. 

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3 reasons to get the flu shot this year: 

1. It’s free.  With Marketplace health insurance, immunizations are a covered preventive care benefit. Your flu shot is free from a provider in your plan's network.
2. It's easy. You can get the flu shot at many locations, like pharmacies and grocery stores.
3. It helps protect you and others. A flu shot can lower your chance of getting sick and spreading the flu to others.

Get more information on protecting yourself from the flu. 

Open Enrollment for 2024 Marketplace health plans starts November 1. Don’t lose out on valuable health insurance information and deadline reminders this fall by connecting with the Marketplace today.

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3 quick & easy ways to connect

Take a few minutes right now to stay in the loop. This way, you’ll get regular reminders and updates as Open Enrollment gets closer.

• Sign up for email or text updates. Visit HealthCare.gov, and click “Sign up” under “Get important news & updates.”
• Follow us on social media. Find us on Twitter and Facebook.
• You can also get help in your community. Enter your ZIP code for a list of people and groups near you that are trained to help you apply. Some even offer help in languages other than English.

Explore HealthCare.gov to find out dates and deadlines, learn why having health insurance is important, and get enrollment tips. Get started with a quick guide.

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Key dates for Marketplace coverage 

• November 1: Open Enrollment starts. 
• December 15: Enroll for coverage that starts January 1. 
• January 15: The last day to enroll; Open Enrollment for 2024 coverage ends. 

Looking for coverage for the rest of 2023? 

• Find out if you can enroll in Marketplace coverage through a Special Enrollment Period. 
• You can enroll in Medicaid or the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) anytime if you’re eligible. Coverage can start right away. 

Get a quick guide to the Marketplace.

When life changes, your health coverage and saving options may change too. If you’ve had a change, like you got married or moved to a new address, let the Marketplace know. 

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What type of changes should I report? 

Certain changes are considered qualifying life events. There are 4 basic types: 

• Loss of health coverage: Losing job-based coverage (yours or a household member’s) or eligibility for Medicaid, Medicare, or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) 
• Residence changes: Certain household moves, like to a new ZIP code, county, or state 
• Household changes: New baby, marriage, divorce, or death 
• Other qualifying life events, like changes in your income that affect the coverage you qualify for or becoming a U.S. citizen 

These changes may affect the coverage or savings you’re eligible for. Also, you may qualify for a Special Enrollment Period to sign up for health insurance outside of Open Enrollment. 

Get the full list of changes to report.

3 ways to report changes: 

• Online: Update your Marketplace application. 
• Phone: Contact the Marketplace Call Center, and a representative can help you update your application. 
• In person: Find someone in your community to help you make changes.

Having a baby qualifies you for a Special Enrollment Period to enroll in or change 2023 Marketplace coverage for you, your baby, and other household members.

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Enroll in Marketplace coverage after birth/adoption

• Access to health care services is important. With Marketplace coverage, you’ll get free preventive benefits, like well-baby visits.
• Apply within 60 days after your baby’s birth or adoption/foster care date. Update an existing application, or apply for the first time. Your coverage can start the day of the event, even if you enroll up to 60 days afterward.
• If you already have Marketplace coverage, you can keep your current plan and add your baby to your coverage. You may have new coverage options with better savings.

Learn more about Special Enrollment Periods and how to apply.

As you get ready to move, it's important to know that your new address may impact your health coverage options and savings. Don't forget to update your Marketplace application to get the best plan for your household, and the right amount of savings. 

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Your next steps depend on where you move

When you move to a new state: 

• You can't keep the same plan from your old state. Let the Marketplace know if you move to a different state right away, so you don't have a break in coverage or continue to pay for coverage that doesn't apply in your new state.
• To get coverage in your new state, start a new Marketplace application and enroll in a plan in your new state. How you apply depends on whether your new state uses HealthCare.gov or its own website.
• Apply for Marketplace coverage in your new state.

If you move within the same state:

• Your coverage options and savings could change based on your new address.
• Report your change of address to the Marketplace — we'll let you know if you need to pick a new plan. 

Learn more about making updates to your Marketplace application when your income or household changes. 

All private health insurance plans offered in the Health Insurance Marketplace® must cover the same essential health benefits. Care in these 10 categories of services is covered by all Marketplace plans.

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10 covered benefits:

• Ambulatory patient services (outpatient care you get without being admitted to a hospital)
• Emergency services
• Hospitalization (like surgery and overnight stays)
• Pregnancy and newborn care (both before and after birth)
• Mental health and substance use disorder services, including behavioral health treatment, counseling, and psychotherapy
• Prescription drugs
• Rehabilitative and habilitative services and devices
• Laboratory services
• Preventive and wellness services and chronic disease management
• Pediatric services, including oral and vision care (this doesn’t include adult dental or vision coverage)

In addition, plans must also include birth control and breastfeeding coverage. Some plans may offer dental and vision coverage.

Specific services may vary based on your state’s requirements. Get more information on what Marketplace health insurance plans cover.

For the past few years, states had to continue your coverage in Medicaid (and in some cases the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP)), even if your income or other factors changed that would typically make you ineligible.

States are now returning to normal operations, so they’ll recheck your eligibility for these programs again. If your state finds that your household income is now too high or other changes make you ineligible, you may lose your Medicaid or CHIP coverage.

If this happens, you have other options for health insurance.

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Your options to enroll in health coverage:

Apply for Marketplace coverage at HealthCare.gov

• Most people qualify for savings on a health plan to lower their monthly premium and what they pay when they get care.
• 4 in 5 customers are able to find health coverage for $10 or less a month.
• All Marketplace plans cover doctor’s visits, prescription drugs, emergency care, mental health, hospitalizations, and more.
• You can apply and enroll in a Marketplace plan as early as 60 days before your Medicaid or CHIP coverage ends to avoid a gap in coverage.
• From March 31, 2023 - July 31, 2024, you can also apply for a Marketplace plan any time after your Medicaid or CHIP coverage ends. You’ll have 60 days after submitting your application to enroll in a plan that will start at the beginning of the next month after you complete your enrollment.

Enroll now to get coverage that can start the first of next month.

Create an account (or log into an existing one) to start an application.

Explore your eligibility for Medicaid, CHIP, & Medicare

• You can re-apply through your state to find out if you still qualify for Medicaid/CHIP.
• If you’re 65 or older but didn’t sign up for Medicare when you first became eligible, you may be able to sign up without paying a late enrollment penalty.

Learn more about staying covered if you lose Medicaid or CHIP.

Summer is here! With Marketplace coverage, you’re already in a great place to have a healthy summer. Learn more about how you can stay well this summer:

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3 ways to stay healthy & make the most of your summer:

• Choose a provider. Think of your provider as your health care partner. Finding one you trust is important. Learn how to find a doctor in your plan’s network.
• Get preventive services. Preventive health check-ups can help detect or even prevent health problems before they start. These services, like shots and cancer screenings, are free when you visit a provider in your plan’s network.
• Check your choppers. The health of your mouth impacts your overall health. If you have dental coverage, be sure you’re up-to-date on your dental checkups. If not, put them on your summer schedule.