ACA Health Insurance: Understanding Your Coverage and Options

The Affordable Care Act (ACA), also known as Obamacare, was signed into law in 2010. The ACA has made significant changes to the way health insurance is regulated in the United States, including expanding access to coverage, providing subsidies to help people afford coverage, and establishing new rules for insurers.

What is the ACA?

The ACA is a federal law that regulates health insurance in the United States. The ACA has three main goals:

1. Expand access to health insurance: The ACA made it easier for people to get health insurance by creating new health insurance marketplaces, providing subsidies to help people afford coverage, and expanding Medicaid eligibility.
2. Provide subsidies to help people afford coverage: The ACA provides subsidies to help people afford health insurance. These subsidies are available to people who meet certain income requirements.
3. Establish new rules for insurers: The ACA established new rules for insurers, including requiring them to cover a set of essential health benefits and prohibiting them from denying coverage based on pre-existing conditions.

What is Covered by the ACA?

The ACA requires all health insurance plans to cover a set of essential health benefits. These essential health benefits include:

Doctor visits
Hospitalization
Maternity care
Mental health care
Prescription drugs
Laboratory services
Rehabilitative services
Preventive care

What are the Different Types of ACA Health Insurance Plans?

There are four different types of ACA health insurance plans:

1. Bronze plans: Bronze plans have the lowest premiums, but they also have the highest deductibles and out-of-pocket costs.
2. Silver plans: Silver plans have higher premiums than bronze plans, but they also have lower deductibles and out-of-pocket costs.
3. Gold plans: Gold plans have the highest premiums, but they also have the lowest deductibles and out-of-pocket costs.
4. Platinum plans: Platinum plans have the highest premiums, but they also have the lowest deductibles and out-of-pocket costs.

How to Get ACA Health Insurance

You can get ACA health insurance through the Health Insurance Marketplace or directly from an insurance company. If you get health insurance through the Health Insurance Marketplace, you may be eligible for subsidies to help you afford coverage.

If you need help understanding your ACA health insurance options, you should contact a licensed insurance agent.