Marketplace & ACA

Health coverage without the runaround.

If you're under 65 and don't get affordable coverage through work, the Marketplace is where you shop. Here's how it works, what it costs, and how to pay less.

Start here · 4 min

How Marketplace health plans work

The Health Insurance Marketplace is where individuals and families buy private health plans. Here's what that actually means for you.

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Choosing a plan · 4 min

Bronze, Silver, Gold & Platinum, explained

Marketplace plans come in "metal" tiers. They don't change the quality of care — they change how you and the plan split the costs.

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The fine print, decoded · 5 min

Premiums, deductibles & the words that confuse everyone

Premium, deductible, copay, coinsurance, out-of-pocket max — here's what each one actually means and how they fit together.

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Lowering the cost · 4 min

Savings & subsidies: could you pay less?

Many households qualify for help paying their monthly premium. Whether you do — and how much — depends on your income, household size, and the rules in effect for the year.

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Timing · 3 min

When you can actually enroll

You can't sign up just any day of the year — unless life changes. Here's how Open Enrollment and Special Enrollment Periods work.

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Self-employed · 6 min

Health insurance for the self-employed: how it actually works

No employer plan, no HR department, and a tax deduction most people underuse. Here's how freelancers and business owners get covered.

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Subsidies · 5 min

Do you qualify for an ACA premium tax credit?

Four conditions decide it. Here's how to tell where you stand before you spend an hour on an application.

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Plan types · 5 min

HMO vs. PPO: which health plan type is right for you?

The letters describe how you're allowed to use your network. Here's what each one actually means for referrals, out-of-network care, and cost.

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Enrollment · 4 min

Missed Open Enrollment? Here are your options

The window closing doesn't always mean waiting a year. Here's what still works, and what to avoid.

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What changed · 5 min

Did ACA subsidies end? What changed for 2026

The enhanced premium tax credits expired at the end of 2025. Here's what that actually means for your premium, and who it hit hardest.

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Subsidies · 5 min

ACA subsidy income limits: how much can you earn and still qualify?

Eligibility is measured against the federal poverty level for your household size. Here's how the bands work and where the cutoff sits.

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Enrollment · 5 min

Qualifying life events: how to get coverage outside Open Enrollment

Miss Open Enrollment and you generally wait a year — unless something in your life changed. Here's the list, and the clock you're working against.

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See what you'd pay

A licensed agent can check your savings in minutes.