About the

Health Insurance

Marketplace

8 things you can do to get ready now

1. Explore current options. You may be able to get coverage 

now through existing programs. Visit HealthCare.gov to 

learn more about health insurance for adults up to age 

26 and programs for people and children in families with 

limited incomes including Medicaid and CHIP.

2. Learn about different types of health coverage. Through 

the Marketplace, you’ll be able to choose a health plan that 

gives you the right balance of costs and coverage. You can 

be better prepared if you understand the types of coverage 

you’ll choose from.

3. Make a list of questions you have before it’s time to choose 

your health plan. For example, “Can I stay with my current 

doctor?” or “Will this plan cover my health costs when I’m 

traveling?”

4. Make sure you understand how insurance works, including 

things like premiums, deductibles, out-of-pocket 

maximums, copayments, and coinsurance.

You’ll want to consider these details while you’re exploring 

your options. Visit HealthCare.gov to learn more about 

how insurance works. 

5. Gather basic information about your household income.

Most people using the Marketplace will qualify to save 

money. To find out how much you’re eligible for, you’ll need 

income information like the kind you get on your W-2, pay 

stubs, or tax return. 

6. Set your budget. There will be different types of health 

plans to meet a variety of needs and budgets. You’ll need 

to figure out how much you want to spend on premiums 

each month.

7. Ask your employer if it plans to offer health insurance in 

2014. If not, you may need to get insurance through the 

Marketplace or from other sources in 2014.

8. Find out if your state is running its own Marketplace. 

Some states run their own Marketplace. In other cases the 

Marketplace is run by the federal government. Either way, you

get the same access to all of your Marketplace coverage options.

CMS Product No. 11629

June 2013
Better health insurance choices

The Marketplace is a new way to find health coverage that fits 

your budget and meets your needs. With one application, you 

can see all your options and enroll. 

Every health insurance plan in the new Marketplace will offer 

essential health benefits, including doctor visits, preventive 

care, hospitalization, prescriptions, and more. You can 

compare plans based on price, benefits, quality, and other 

features important to you before you make a choice. 

Insurance plans run by private companies

Insurance plans in the Marketplace are offered by private 

companies, and they cover the same core set of essential 

health benefits. No matter where you live, you’ll be able to 

compare your health insurance options in the Marketplace and 

find a health plan that meets your needs and fits your budget. 

There will also be new protections for you and your family. 

Health insurance companies can’t deny you coverage or 

charge you more due to pre-existing health conditions, and 

they can’t charge women and men different premiums.

Explore the Marketplace now

Visit HealthCare.gov now to get answers to your questions 

and sign up for e-mail or text updates about the Marketplace. 

You can also call the Health Insurance Marketplace Call Center 

at 1-800-318-2596. TTY users should call 1-855-889-4325.

When open enrollment begins, you can go to the Marketplace 

and apply for health coverage, compare all your options, and 

enroll in a plan in one application. 

Open enrollment starts October 1, 2013. Coverage starts as 

soon as January 1, 2014.

3 things to know about the 

Health Insurance Marketplace

1. It’s an easier way to shop for health 

insurance.

The Marketplace simplifies your search for health 

coverage by gathering the options available in 

your area in one place. With one application, 

you can compare plans, and explore any free or 

low-cost programs you may qualify for. 

2. Most people can get a break on costs.

When you use the Health Insurance Marketplace 

you may be able to get lower costs on your monthly

premiums and out-of-pocket costs. When you

fill out your Health Insurance Marketplace 

application, you’ll find out how much you can 

save. Most people who apply will qualify for 

some kind of savings.

3. Gives you control over your options with

clear, apples-to-apples comparisons. 

In the Marketplace, information about prices and 

benefits is written in simple language. You get 

a clear picture of what premiums you’d pay and 

what benefits and protections you’d get before 

you enroll. Compare plans based on what’s 

important to you, and choose the combination 

of price and coverage that fits your 

needs and budget.