What is the Affordable Care Act / Marketplace?

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, referred to as the Affordable Care Act or “ACA” for short, is the comprehensive health care reform law enacted in March 2010.

The law has 3 primary goals:

• Make affordable health insurance available to more people. The law provides consumers with subsidies (“premium tax credits”) that lower costs for households with incomes between 100% and 400% of the federal poverty level (FPL). 
• Expand the Medicaid program to cover all adults with income below 138% of the FPL. Not all states have expanded their Medicaid programs.
• Support innovative medical care delivery methods designed to lower the costs of health care generally.

Since its enactment, the Affordable Care Act has led to an historic advancement of health equity in the United States. This landmark law improved the health of all Americans, including women and families, kids, older adults, people with disabilities, LGBTQI+ and communities of color. Thanks to the ACA, millions more Americans have gained health coverage without limits, and protections are in place for people with preexisting conditions. People have access to essential health benefits, including preventive and rehabilitative care, prescription drugs, wellness visits and contraceptives, mental health and substance use treatment, among many others. The Biden-Harris Administration is committed to building on the success of the ACA and making health care a right for all Americans.

Are you eligible to use the Marketplace?

To be eligible to enroll in health coverage through the Marketplace, you:

• Must live in the United States.
• Must be a U.S. citizen or national (or be lawfully present). Learn about eligible immigration statuses.
• Can't be incarcerated.

Important dates

• November 1: Open Enrollment starts for health coverage for the next plan year — first day you can enroll in, re-enroll in, or change health plans through the Health Insurance Marketplace^®. Coverage can start as soon as January 1.
• December 15: Last day to enroll in or change plans for coverage to start January 1.
• January 1: Coverage starts for those who enroll in or change plans by December 15 and pay their first premium.
• January 15: Open Enrollment ends — last day to enroll in or change health plans for the year. After this date, you can enroll in or change plans only if you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period.
• February 1: Coverage starts for those who enroll in or change plans December 16 through January 15 and pay their first premium.

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