Getting Health Coverage When You Don’t Make Enough Money for ACA Subsidies

Getting Health Coverage When You Don’t Make Enough Money for ACA Subsidies

—

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) provides health insurance subsidies to help people afford coverage. However, there is an income floor and ceiling for these subsidies. If you earn too little money, you may not qualify for any subsidies.

This can be a problem for people who are working part-time or going to school part-time. They may not earn enough money to qualify for subsidies, but they also may not be able to afford to buy health insurance on their own.

What are my options if I don’t qualify for ACA subsidies?

If you don’t qualify for ACA subsidies, you have a few options.

You can purchase a health insurance plan directly from an insurance company. This is known as “off-exchange” coverage. Off-exchange plans are not eligible for ACA subsidies, but they may be less expensive than on-exchange plans. However, off-exchange plans may not cover as many benefits as on-exchange plans, and they may have higher deductibles and copayments.
You can see if you qualify for Medicaid. Medicaid is a government health insurance program for people with low incomes. If you qualify for Medicaid, you will receive free or low-cost health insurance.
You can see if you qualify for CHIP. CHIP is a government health insurance program for children whose families earn too much money to qualify for Medicaid but not enough money to afford private health insurance.
If you are a veteran, you can see if you qualify for VA health care. For information on VA health care eligibility, visit VA.gov [https://www.va.gov/health-care/eligibility/] or call 1-877-222-8387.

If you do not qualify for any of these programs, you may still be able to find affordable health insurance. There are a number of non-profit organizations that offer health insurance plans to people with low incomes. You can also contact your state insurance department for more information about health insurance options in your area.

How can I apply for health insurance?

To apply for health insurance, you can go to Healthcare.gov [https://www.healthcare.gov/] or you can contact your state insurance department. You can also apply for health insurance through a licensed insurance agent or broker.

When is the deadline to apply for health insurance?

The deadline to apply for health insurance is December 15th. However, you can apply for health insurance outside of the open enrollment period if you have a qualifying life event, such as losing your job or getting married.

How can I get help with my health insurance application?

If you need help with your health insurance application, you can contact the Marketplace Call Center at 1-800-318-2596. You can also get help from a licensed insurance agent or broker.

What if I can’t afford health insurance?

If you can’t afford health insurance, you may be able to get help from a non-profit organization. There are a number of non-profit organizations that offer health insurance plans to people with low incomes. You can also contact your state insurance department for more information about health insurance options in your area.