Don’t know if you qualify for Affordable Care Act health insurance? Check out these seven scenarios to see if any of them apply to you. If one or more does, get your coverage before January 15. If you miss OEP, you may not have another chance to enroll until this time next year!
If you’re under age 26…
Check with your parents first, since they can cover you on their employer-provided coverage until you turn 26. This is likely to be your cheapest option for quality coverage. If it still seems pricey, compare the cost of joining your parents’ insurance to the cost of getting your own coverage. Our decision-support tools will tell you how much you might pay for coverage in a matter of minutes.
If you’re over age 26…
You’re responsible for finding your own coverage now that you can no longer be on your parent’s plan, so see which of the other scenarios listed below is applicable to you.
If you’re self-employed or in the gig economy…
Know your income and who in your family you can cover, because that’s what will determine if you qualify for a subsidy and, if so, how much you get to put toward your health coverage. Your last tax form should do it, or you can show an up-to-date accounting of your earned income. Read more…
If you’re a part-time worker…
Make sure you don’t qualify for coverage through your employer. Employers are required by law to offer you health insurance if you work an average of 30 or more hours per week over a “lookback period” (usually the past calendar year). If you don’t work at least 30 hours per week at any one job and haven’t gotten health insurance offers from your employer(s), you should qualify for an ACA plan.
If you’re full-time but your employer doesn’t offer you health insurance…
It’s rare for full-time employees to not be offered coverage through their employer — your employer has to pay a fine to the IRS if they don’t cover you! Check with your supervisor or HR manager to be sure. If they really don’t provide health insurance to full-time employees, they should provide you with a letter that confirms you’re eligible to shop for subsidized coverage on the ACA marketplace. Read more…
If you’re on COBRA coverage…
If you are not currently employed full-time or don’t qualify for health insurance through your current employer, you may be able to find subsidized ACA plans with similar coverage to COBRA on the marketplace for much cheaper than you pay for COBRA. Read more…
If you’re retired but not yet 65 years old…
Some employers offer their retired employees coverage for a certain period after. But they may make you pay for it, so be sure to compare the cost of an employer-offered plan with what’s available to you on the ACA marketplace. If your employer doesn’t offer pre-65 retiree coverage, then go straight to HealthSherpa!
If you’re an immigrant…
Legal-resident immigrants of the following statuses are qualified to enroll in ACA coverage and, based on income, may qualify for subsidies toward their coverage: Temporary Protected Status with Employment Authorization, Special Immigrant Juvenile Status, Victim of Trafficking Visa, Adjustment to LPR Status, Asylum, Withholding of Deportation, or Withholding of Removal, under the immigration laws or under the Convention against Torture (CAT). For more information about whether you qualify, read about immigration status requirements at healthcare.gov.
Are you ready to shop for coverage? Click here to shop online, or call our Consumer Advocate team anytime at (855) 772-2663.
And for more information on coverage and qualifications, check out our recent blog post, “Your quick guide to the 2019 Open Enrollment Period.”
Happy shopping!