Open enrollment for the Affordable Care Act (ACA) continues until December 15. If you still haven’t signed up or debating if you’re even eligible for a plan then check out some frequently asked questions below.

Am I eligible for health insurance through the Affordable Care Act?

• If you don’t have health insurance through your job, Medicare, Medicaid or another source, you may be eligible to purchase insurance through HealthCare.gov.

How do I enroll? What is the deadline?

• Signing up is easy and can be done in several ways – via the Internet at Healthcare.gov or by phone at the Marketplace Call Center 1-800- 318-2596.
• If you prefer in-person help, go to LocalHelp.HealthCare.gov to find a location in your area.
• Spanish speaking consumers should visit CuidadoDeSalud.gov.
• Open enrollment ends on December 15. This is much earlier than last year so sign-up early to beat the rush.

I am young and healthy. Do I need to get covered?

• Most definitely. No one plans to get sick or hurt, but it happens.
• Getting covered means you can go to the doctor’s office when you get sick, instead of the emergency room and you won’t have to worry that unexpected health costs will place you and your family at financial risk.

What do plans cover?

• Health plans offered through the marketplace all cover preventive care at no charge and have no co-pay. This means free check-ups, vaccinations, and more.
• All plans provide coverage for a range of important health benefits such as prescription drugs, including Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), doctor visits, hospitalization, mental health and substance use disorder services, maternity care and much more.
• Healthcare.gov has Doctor and Prescription Drug Lookup tools so you can find out which plans cover your doctors and prescriptions.

How much will it cost?

• Healthcare.gov has an Out of Pocket Cost estimator that will help you estimate your total costs for the year including premiums, deductibles, and co-pays.
• Most people can find plans available for less than $75 dollars a month.
• Tax credits, which many individuals are eligible to receive, help make plans affordable.
• If you choose to go without insurance, you may have to pay a penalty.