ObamaCare Facts – An Independent Site For ACA Advice

Researched by Thomas DeMichele Published - June 30, 2012
Last Updated - November 1, 2024

ObamaCareFacts.com – Providing Facts on the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Since 2012

ObamaCare Facts is an independent website. Get the facts on healthcare and health insurance under the Affordable Care Act (also known as ObamaCare).

At ObamaCareFacts.com, we aim to offer fact-based information on the Affordable Care Act to help people learn about health insurance enrollment, assistance programs, benefits, plan types, and more.

We have been a trusted, independent source of information on the Affordable Care Act since 2012. Please note, we do not have any direct relationship with health insurance providers, healthcare providers or the federal government. We are not affiliated with HealthCare.gov.

What is ObamaCare?

ObamaCare is a nickname for the healthcare law known as the The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), often shortened to the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

FACT: President Obama signed the Affordable Care Act into law on March 23, 2010. Despite some changes, numerous repeal attempts, and significant court cases, the ACA remains the “law of the land” today.

FACT: Open Enrollment 2025 begins on November 1, 2024, and ends January 15, 2025, in most states. To receive coverage with cost assistance, visit your state’s health insurance website during this period to get enrolled!

What Does ObamaCare Do?

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) aims to improve the quality, availability, and affordability of both private and public health insurance for tens of millions of uninsured Americans. It does so through various provisions, including new regulations, taxes, mandates, and subsidies.

The law also addresses the unsustainable growth of healthcare spending in the U.S., seeking to slow its rise.

More specifically, ObamaCare provides a range of new benefits, rights, and protections. Below are some links to detailed information on various components of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), commonly known as ObamaCare:

TIP: Get more at ObamaCare Facts.

How To Understand ObamaCare and Safely Enroll In A Plan With Cost Assistance

Each year under the Affordable Care Act (ObamaCare), Americans can get health coverage and cost assistance based on income by signing up for a plan during open enrollment.

Open enrollment is the only time of year all Americans have access to guaranteed issue health coverage regardless of their income or health status!

  • Each year, open enrollment goes from Nov 1st to Jan 15th in most states unless an extension is granted.
  • For example, Obamacare open enrollment for 2025 started November 1, 2024 and ends January 15, 2025, in most states. See state-based deadlines.
  • Plans purchased during open enrollment 2025 start as soon as Jan 1, 2025!

Outside of open enrollment, coverage options are limited to short-term coverage, Medicaid/CHIP, and special enrollment options for those with qualifying life events. Medicare and employer coverage each have their own unique enrollment periods.

Open enrollment season is a brief window during which over 15 million individuals and families without other coverage options can sign up for health insurance.

Don’t wait until the last minute. Enroll as early as possible during open enrollment, as the closer it gets to the deadline, the fewer opportunities you’ll have.

If you miss the deadline, check your options by clicking here..

Keep reading to learn more about how to shop for coverage.

ObamaCare Extensions 2025: Extensions for 2025 may be available. Check official state-based websites and the federal marketplace at HealthCare.Gov  for updates, as extensions can change at any time.

TIP: Starting in 2019, the fee for not having coverage is $0 in most states. However, some states have their own mandates requiring coverage.

Getting Coverage With Cost Assistance Under the Affordable Care Act

There are a few options for getting coverage under the Affordable Care Act.

    1. Enroll through Healthcare.Gov: You can sign up online, over the phone, or in-person with an assister through the government exchange Healthcare.Gov (or HC.gov for short). This is a straightforward option if you know you qualify for cost assistance.
    2. Enroll with a Marketplace-Approved Broker:. You can also enroll online, over the phone, or in-person with an HC.gov marketplace-approved broker. This option gives you access to both marketplace plans with cost assistance and non-marketplace plans like short-term plans.
    3. Enroll with a Non-Approved Broker:. Another option is enrolling with a non-approved broker for non-marketplace options such as short-term plans.

Both marketplace assisters and marketplace-approved brokers can help you sign up for a plan with cost assistance. Regardless of where you enroll—whether it’s through HC.gov or a broker—the price remains the same, as all these plans are highly regulated.

Meanwhile, for individuals and families seeking coverage in the private market, non-approved brokers typically offer limited benefit short-term plans.  These plans aren’t highly regulated and can vary widely in terms of price, benefits, and eligibility. While they may suit some needs, it’s essential to fully understand your options.

The benefit of working with an HC.gov-approved broker is that they can guide you through both marketplace plans with cost assistance and short-term plan options, giving you a clearer picture of what’s available.

We collaborate with HealthNetwork, a consumer-focused company that has been helping individuals safely enroll with HC.gov-approved brokers since 2013. Like us, they prioritize people over profits and can connect you with brokers who will assist in enrolling in a marketplace plan or exploring other options.

In summary, you can either visit HealthCare.gov for straightforward enrollment, work with HealthNetwork to connect with a broker for more options, or find a broker on your own. Feel free to ask us any questions!

Be cautious with lead forms: If you don’t use our site to find a broker, be extra careful when searching for health insurance online and filling out forms. There are numerous spammers who specifically target the term “Obamacare.” While we’ve made efforts to keep our site free of scammers, if you search elsewhere for brokers, ensure the site is trustworthy. Sharing your information without caution can result in spam phone calls.

Why trust us? ObamaCareFacts.com has helped nearly 40 million Americans navigate the Affordable Care Act and cost assistance options since 2012. Our site has been referenced by several national news outlets, including:

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TIP: Want to explore more resources from the team behind ObamaCareFacts.com? Check out our free plan finder and informational site for Medicare at MedicarePolicyHelper.com.

What Has Changed With Obamacare

A lot has changed with the Affordable Care Act, and there are likely more changes on the way. Here are key updates for 2024:

  • ACA Tax Penalty: Since January 1st, 2019, the federal tax penalty for not having health insurance coverage has been reduced to zero in most states. Consumer warning: Some states may impose their own penalties, so stay informed about your state’s regulations.
  • Operational budget cuts, as well as funding for marketing and outreach, along with some HC.gov contractors not having their contracts renewed for call center service support, means it could be more difficult to enroll through the HC.gov over the phone.
  • There is, however, now going to be seamless support for WBE (web-based brokers) to directly enroll consumers into Obamacare-compliant on-exchange plans in a very seamless manner. This is one positive that will help ensure that an extension for open enrollment will not be required.
  • Short-term health insurance regulations have been stripped back. Depending on where you get your news from, this could be perceived as both good and bad for consumers long term.

The prices you’ll find in your state, or more specifically, your county, will have a range. Some carriers will be more costly than others, and some may offer a better range of services that come with their plan. We advise that you check back into this site frequently as we get closer and closer to open enrollment. Unless you have a qualifying life event, you cannot change plans or sign up for an Obamacare plan until November 1st of each year.

We strongly advise that you check back on November 1st of each year or use the Obamacare Enrollment form to update your household information and compare rates for Obamacare for the upcoming open enrollment season.

There is So Much More to Explore

We’ve only touched on the basics of what our site offers. Every aspect of the Affordable Care Act, including how to enroll with cost assistance, is covered in detail throughout our site. Feel free to browse and ask questions. If you’re curious about anything related to ObamaCare, we’ve likely addressed it.

NOTE: While we don’t have direct relationships with insurers, we do feature ads on our site, similar to other websites. We’ve taken care to partner with brokers who follow “best practices” when helping you connect with insurers. Our focus is on protecting consumers and ensuring that everyone has a positive ACA experience, no matter how they choose to shop. You can learn more about getting health insurance quotes on our site.. If you have any negative experiences, don’t hesitate to reach out.

ObamaCare Facts: Helping America Navigate the Affordable Care Act
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