If you’ll need health insurance through the Affordable Care Act in 2024, the deadline to sign up is coming quick — open enrollment ends next week for those needing insurance by Jan. 1, 2024. The ACA is designed to give more Americans access to lower-cost health insurance, and it also expands Medicaid and supports new medical delivery methods, such as ACA Health Homes.
As of March, more than 40 million Americans are enrolled in the ACA health insurance marketplace. The ACA, which was signed into law by President Barack Obama in 2010, is also known as Obamacare. Keep reading to find out if you qualify for coverage under the ACA, how to enroll and when the deadlines are.
For more health care tips, learn about the best telehealth services and find out how you can save money on medical bills if you don’t have insurance.
When’s the deadline to sign up for a health care plan with the ACA marketplace?
While open enrollment continues through Jan. 15, you need to sign up by Dec. 15 to receive complete coverage as early as Jan. 1, 2024. If you sign up for a plan from Dec. 16 through Jan. 15 and pay your premium, your coverage will begin Feb. 1.
Depending on your circumstances you may be eligible for special enrollment outside of those dates. Here’s how you may qualify:
You had a life-changing event in the past 60 days: The events include losing health insurance coverage, having a baby, getting married, getting divorced or moving to a new ZIP code. Also, if you had a change in household income or if someone on your plan died, you might qualify.
Note that if you moved to a new ZIP code, you must show proof that you had insurance for at least one day during the past 60 days, or that you’ll lose coverage in the next 60 days. Also, if you’ve lost your job and decide not to accept COBRA (Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act) coverage, you can still enroll in an ACA plan.
You’re applying for Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP): If you’re applying for either of these programs, you can apply for health insurance via the marketplace at any time.
Other life circumstances that could qualify you:
- You’re getting out of prison.
- You just became a US citizen.
- You’re starting or ending service in AmeriCorps.
- You’ve gained membership in a federally recognized tribe or status as an Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) corporation shareholder.
To see if you qualify for special enrollment, follow the steps above at healthcare.gov/screener/. If you’re eligible, your health care plan would begin the first of the month after you enroll. For instance, if you enroll in February, your coverage would begin March 1.
