Marketplace Questions

Short-term or association plans are not equivalent to the health insurance plans available for purchase on healthcare.gov. They may have fewer benefits or a number of exclusions.

You can apply for coverage in four ways.

• Online: Get started at HealthCare.gov
• By phone: Call 1-800-318-2596, (TTY 855-889-4325) 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
• With in-person help: Visit localhelp.healthcare.gov for a list of trained people in your community who can assist you in filling out an application and enrolling.
• With a paper application: Download and print the application PDF and instructions at healthcare.gov. Once you mail it in, you'll get eligibility results by mail within two weeks.

Please visit HealthCare.gov for more information.

Having health insurance is important because it helps pay for care while protecting you financially in the event of an expensive health condition. Research also shows that people with health insurance are more likely to have a regular doctor and receive care when they need it.

• Open enrollment begins - Nov. 1, 2023
• Open enrollment ends - Jan. 15, 2024
• Enroll by December 15 to have coverage effective Jan. 1, 2024
• Enroll between December 16 and January 15 for coverage effective February 1, 2024

U.S. citizens who do not have insurance, who buy their own health plans or who cannot get Medicaid or Medicare can buy a plan through the Marketplace.

Those who buy plans through the Marketplace may qualify for savings, which will vary by the amount of money their family makes.

Before you buy, ask or check online to see which doctors and hospitals are included in the plan. If you already have a regular doctor, check to see if that doctor is part of the plan. This is important if you want to keep your out-of-pocket costs down.

A time outside the yearly Open Enrollment Period when you can sign up for health insurance. You qualify for a Special Enrollment Period if you’ve had certain life events, including losing health coverage, moving, getting married, having a baby, or adopting a child, or if your household income is below a certain amount. Depending on your Special Enrollment Period type, you may have 60 days before or 60 days following the event to enroll in a plan. You can enroll in Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) any time. Job-based plans must provide a Special Enrollment Period of at least 30 days.

Visit https://www.healthcare.gov/screener to see if you qualify.

North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) has resumed conducting eligibility reviews for Medicaid and NC Health Choice that were temporarily stopped during the COVID-19 pandemic. You may still have access to a FREE free or low-cost healthcare plan on Healthcare.gov.

• In North Carolina, Medicaid and NCHC offer health coverage to some low-income people, families and children, pregnant women, the elderly, and people with disabilities. If your income level or medical needs change, you might qualify for Medicaid or NCHC.
• You can apply any time, and there’s no limit to the number of times you can apply.
• To re-apply for Medicaid or NC Health Choice, visit Medicaid.gov/about-us/beneficiary-resources/index.html#statemenu.

• If you now qualify for Medicare, but didn’t sign up for it when you first became eligible, you have a limited time, called a Special Enrollment Period, to sign up without paying the usual penalty.
• Your Special Enrollment Period starts the day your state notifies you that your Medicaid coverage is ending and continues for 6 months after your Medicaid coverage ends.
• To sign up for Medicare during this Special Enrollment Period, fill out an Application for Medicare Part A and Part B Special Enrollment (CMS-10797) form and mail or fax it to your local Social Security office. You can also call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213. TTY users can call 1-800-325-0778.