Open Enrollment for 2021 coverage starts November 1. Plans have different premiums and out-of-pocket costs and may differ in the quality of service and benefits they provide. Knowing a few things before you apply can make the process for choosing a plan simpler.

Things to think about when comparing Marketplace plans

• There are 4 categories of health insurance plans: Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum. These categories show how you and your plan share costs. Plan categories have nothing to do with quality of care.
• HealthCare.gov offers health insurance plan quality ratings (or "star ratings"), that reflect member experience, medical care, and health plan administration. The ratings let you quickly compare plans based on quality.
• When choosing a plan, it’s a good idea to think about your total health care costs. You pay a monthly bill to your insurance company (a "premium"), even if you don’t use medical services that month. You pay out-of-pocket costs, including a deductible, when you get care.
• Some plan types allow you to use almost any doctor or health care facility. Other plans limit your choices or charge you more if you use providers outside their network.

Learn more about choosing the health plan that right’s for your family.

With Open Enrollment for 2021 less than a month away, make sure you’re prepared. Whether you’re enrolling for the first or fifth time or planning to renew your current plan, taking small steps to get ready now can help the application process run smoothly when you apply for coverage starting November 1.

3 quick & easy ways to get ready for Open Enrollment

• Learn how the Marketplace works by reading these quick tips. If you come across an unfamiliar term, visit our glossary.
• See if your income is in the range to get help with costs. Enter your household and expected income information, and we'll show you how much you may save. You'll know the exact amount you'll pay after you submit an application.
• When you fill out your application, you'll be asked to predict your income. Marketplace savings are based on your expected household income for 2021, not 2020. See what counts as income so you’ll make an accurate estimate.

Mark your calendar: Open Enrollment for a 2021 Marketplace plan starts November 1, exactly one month from today.

Other important Open Enrollment deadlines:

• Open Enrollment runs from November 1 through December 15, 2020. Coverage starts January 1, 2021.
• If you don’t enroll in a plan by December 15, you can only get 2021 Marketplace coverage if you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period.

Here’s how you can get ready today to apply for 2021 coverage.

With Open Enrollment for 2021 coverage just over a month away, sign up today for deadline reminders and useful tips so you don’t miss out on late-breaking information.

How to connect with the Marketplace

• Get updates via email or text. Visit HealthCare.gov and enter your email address under "Get Important News & Updates." Click "Sign Up."
• Connect with us on social media. Follow us on Twitter and like us on Facebook for news, interactive content, and important updates.
• Find someone to help answer your enrollment questions. Enter your ZIP code for a list of groups and people in your area. Some offer help in languages other than English and other specialized services.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends everyone 6 months and older get a yearly flu shot by the end of October. By getting the shot, you’re helping to lower the spread of flu-related illnesses, hospitalizations, and even death.

3 more reasons it’s important to get your flu shot:

• With Marketplace health insurance, your flu shot is free from a provider in your plan's network. Immunization vaccines are a covered preventive care benefit.
• While babies, children, and older people are most vulnerable, no one is immune from the flu.
• Getting vaccinated is more important than ever. Getting the shot helps reduce illness and preserve health care resources as the country battles the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) emergency.

According to the CDC, the flu vaccine doesn’t increase the risk of getting COVID-19. When you get your shot, try your best to maintain social distancing, avoid waiting areas, and always wear a mask.

All plans offered in the Marketplace, cover a set of 10 essential health benefits, including ambulatory patient services, emergency care, and pregnancy, maternity, and newborn care.

See the full list of covered essential health benefits. Specific services covered can vary based on your state’s requirements. Some plans may offer vision, dental, and medical management programs. When comparing plans, you’ll see exactly what each plan offers.

Also covered: Preventive care & coverage for pre-existing conditions

Marketplace plans cover a set of preventive services, like shots and screening tests, at no cost to you when delivered by a provider in your plan’s network.

No insurance plan can reject you, charge you more, or refuse to pay for essential health benefits for any condition you had before your coverage started, including pregnancy.

Learn more about what Marketplace health insurance plans cover.

If you recently lost health coverage, got married, had a baby, or experienced another life event, you may qualify for a Special Enrollment Period to enroll in or change Marketplace coverage for the rest of 2020.

What counts as a life event?

There are 4 basic types of qualifying life events:

• Loss of health coverage, like losing your job-based or student health plan
• Changes in household, like getting married or divorced, having a baby, or adopting a child
• Changes in residence, like moving to a different ZIP code or state
• Other changes that impact your income or status, like gaining membership in a federally recognized tribe

How to apply with a Special Enrollment Period

• Not sure you qualify? Answer a few questions to see if you can still enroll in or change a plan for 2020.
• If you’re eligible, start an application for the first time or log into an existing account to get started.

Learn more about applying for Marketplace coverage through a Special Enrollment Period.

Here are some important Open Enrollment dates for 2021 coverage to mark on your calendar:

Key Open Enrollment dates

• Open Enrollment runs from Sunday, November 1 through Tuesday, December 15, 2020. Coverage begins January 1, 2021.
• If you don’t enroll in a plan by December 15, you can’t get 2021 coverage unless you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period.

Looking for coverage for the rest of 2020? Answer these questions to see if you can apply through a Special Enrollment Period. You can also enroll in Medicaid or CHIP any time, if you’re eligible. Coverage can begin immediately.

You may qualify for a Special Enrollment Period to enroll in or change health plans if you or anyone in your household lost qualifying health coverage in the past 60 days or expects to lose it in the next 60 days.

Coverage losses that may qualify

• Losing job-based coverage, like through your employer or the employer of a family member.
• Losing individual health coverage for a plan or policy you bought yourself, like if your plan is discontinued or you lose eligibility for a student health plan.
• Losing Medicaid or Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) coverage, like if a change in household income makes you ineligible for Medicaid or your child ages off CHIP.
• Losing Medicare eligibility, like if you’re no longer eligible for premium-free Medicare Part A.
• Losing coverage through a family member, like if you turn 26 and can no longer be on a parent’s plan.

Not sure your coverage loss counts? Answer a few questions to see if you qualify.

Ready to apply through a Special Enrollment Period?

• Create an account or log into an existing one.
• Before you apply, you can preview 2020 plans and prices based on your income.

Note: If you're not eligible to apply with a Special Enrollment Period for the rest of 2020, you can apply for a 2021 health plan Sunday, November 1 through Tuesday, December 15, 2020.

Congratulations on your new addition! If you recently had a baby or adopted a child, you may be eligible for a Special Enrollment Period. This means you can enroll in or change your Marketplace plan even though it’s not Open Enrollment. Your new coverage can start the day of the birth or adoption, even if you enroll in the plan up to 60 days afterward.

How to apply with a Special Enrollment Period

• Create an account or log into an existing one to apply and enroll.
• Before you apply, you can preview 2020 plans and prices based on your income.

Other life changes that may qualify

• Having a baby isn’t the only life event that makes you eligible for a Special Enrollment Period. Coverage and income changes also count.
• Answer a few questions about your life event to see if you may qualify.
• You can also check out the full list of life events.