Frequently-asked questions by category
I’m leaving my job – and will lose my insurance – the last day of this month. Can I get new coverage effective the next month after my employer-sponsored coverage ends or do I have to take COBRA?
March 29, 2024 – You do not have to continue your plan with COBRA unless you want to. You qualify for a special enrollment period if your…
How can American Indians and Alaska Natives get coverage under the ACA? Are there specific plan options for them?
March 29, 2024 – American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/AN) benefit from the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) expanded coverage. Most American Indians/Alaska…
Are smokers unable to afford insurance under the ACA?
February 26, 2024 – The surcharge is thought to impede access to health insurance for smokers in many states. But Medicaid and state-based regulations are…
If I have insurance through my employer, can my spouse get coverage through the exchange?
February 14, 2024 – If you have insurance through your employer, and your spouse is unemployed, they can get insurance through the Marketplace but cannot get a…
What health insurance benefits are available to refugees and asylees arriving in the United States?
February 6, 2024 – For refugees and people who have been granted asylum in the United States, there are fairly robust health coverage benefits…
I am on Medicare and Social Security. My wife is self employed and needs insurance from the state exchange. How do we figure our household income?
February 5, 2024 – For the purpose of determining subsidy eligibility, the IRS and the health insurance exchanges use an ACA-specific version of modified…
I’m 60 and retired. I can get insurance from my former employer but it’s very expensive. Do I qualify for insurance in the Marketplace?
February 5, 2024 – But for retirees, the guidelines are more relaxed. Retirees who have access to a plan that provides minimum essential coverage can still…
How does my access to employer-sponsored coverage impact my eligibility for subsidized coverage through the exchanges?
January 18, 2024 – Fortunately, the IRS issued new rules, effective in 2023, to allow some families to take advantage of premium subsidies in the exchange if…
What is the Medicaid ‘coverage gap’ and who does it affect?
December 21, 2023 – According to Kaiser Family Foundation data, there are about 1.9 million people in the coverage gap across nine states (this does not…
If my income is less than expected this year, I might be eligible for Medicaid. What can I do to cover my bases?
November 13, 2023 – Income volatility and its impact on subsidy eligibility have been addressed by various provisions of the ACA and IRS regulations. But since…
My employer offers insurance, but I think it’s too expensive. Can I apply for a subsidy to help me buy my own insurance?
September 11, 2023 – You cannot qualify for a health insurance premium subsidy unless the insurance your employer offers would force you to kick in more than…
My parents are 68, but recently moved to the U.S., so they don’t qualify for Medicare. Can they buy insurance in the exchange?
September 8, 2023 – If your parents are 65 or older but don't qualify for premium-free Medicare Part A, they can purchase a private plan in the Marketplace and…