Frequently-asked questions by tag
What type of health insurance exchange does my state have?
March 20, 2026 – As of the 2026 plan year, there are 21 fully state-run health insurance marketplaces (SBMs), two state-based marketplaces that use the…
Do plans sold in the health insurance exchanges cover abortion?
March 17, 2026 – In 25 states, Marketplace health insurance plans are not allowed to cover abortions except for circumstances involving rape, incest, or the…
If your income last year was higher than expected, do you have to pay back some of the advance premium tax credits that you received for Marketplace coverage?
February 16, 2026 – If you received advance premium tax credits (APTC) for health insurance you purchased last year, and your income ended up increasing, you…
I purchased health insurance under the Affordable Care Act in Texas, but I have moved to Colorado. How do I transfer my coverage?
February 2, 2026 – If you purchased ACA-compliant health insurance in Texas and you're moving to Colorado, you'll need to select a new Colorado plan rather…
How does the IRS calculate premium tax credits for self-employed people when their AGI depends on their health insurance premium amount?
January 18, 2026 – For self-employed Americans, premium amounts affect modified adjusted gross income, which in turn affects premium amounts. But the IRS has…
We’re a family of four with an income of $60,000 a year. What kinds of subsidies are available to help us purchase insurance through the exchanges?
December 30, 2025 – The government offers two types of subsidies for people who buy their own insurance in the state’s marketplaces (a.k.a. health insurance…
Are smokers unable to afford insurance under the ACA?
December 9, 2025 – The surcharge is thought to impede access to health insurance for smokers in many states. But Medicaid and state-based regulations are…
If I can get health insurance through my employer, can my husband’s company deny me coverage?
November 10, 2025 – Learn whether your spouse’s employer can deny you coverage if you have access to your own employer's coverage – and how the 'working…
Can I get dental insurance through the Marketplace?
November 6, 2025 – Not sure if your ACA Marketplace health plan includes dental coverage? Find out how pediatric and adult dental benefits differ and how…
I understand that subsidies come in the form of tax credits. But I’m unemployed and probably won’t owe any taxes. How would the subsidy help me?
December 19, 2024 – The premium subsidy offered through the exchanges is a tax credit, but it differs from some other tax credits in two important ways. First…
Can I purchase a Platinum policy and also get a premium subsidy?
December 18, 2024 – You can buy a Platinum plan and also get a premium subsidy. The size of the subsidy is based on the cost of a Silver plan, but you can…
I work part-time. Am I eligible for a premium subsidy to help me buy insurance?
December 12, 2024 – Your eligibility for a premium subsidy isn't tied to how many hours you work. As long as you meet the income requirements for the premium…
If someone decides to not buy health insurance and is injured in accident, what happens?
December 9, 2024 – When a patient arrives at the emergency room and is uninsured and unable to pay for his care, staff there are required by law only to…
Do student health policies have to cover birth control without co-pays?
October 28, 2024 – Although schools with religious objections to contraception are not required to include contraceptive coverage in their student health…
We claim our son, but not our daughter, on our taxes. How are premium subsidies calculated for families like ours?
September 29, 2024 – Subsidy eligibility is based on modified adjusted gross income (MAGI). For your family, your MAGI will include income for yourself and your…
My employer offers insurance, but I think it’s too expensive. Can I apply for a subsidy to help me buy my own insurance?
August 23, 2024 – You cannot qualify for a health insurance premium subsidy unless the insurance your employer offers would force you to kick in more than…
Can health insurance policies still have lifetime or annual benefit maximums?
January 19, 2024 – All new individual and small-group plans have covered essential health benefits (EHBs) since 2014, and there cannot be dollar limits on…
Does every business with 50 or more employees pay a penalty if it doesn’t offer ‘affordable, comprehensive’ insurance?
January 10, 2024 – Businesses with 50 or more full-time equivalent (FTE) employees are required to offer comprehensive, affordable health insurance coverage…
Do student health care plans have to cover preventive care at no charge?
January 9, 2024 – Student health insurance plans must include preventive care and cannot impose any cost-sharing for recommended preventive…
Will my father’s premiums go up if I get coverage through his plan instead of my university’s plan?
July 31, 2023 – Young adults under 26 can get coverage through a parent’s plan even if their school (or their own employer) offers health insurance.…
If I decide to gamble and go without insurance, isn’t that my business?
August 18, 2021 – An individual's decision to "gamble" and go without health insurance can result in uncompensated care – a financial burden on hospitals…
My health insurance options from my employer are on an exchange. Is this part of Obamacare?
July 31, 2021 – If the health insurance options from your employer are on an exchange, it could be a private exchange – not the Affordable Care Act's…