From Obamacare? Marketplace? The Exchange?: A Comprehensive Guide (Part 2: Apply. Compare. Enroll.) COMING SOON!
In the Obamacare? Marketplace? The Exchange: A Comprehensive Guide (COMING SOON!), I briefly discussed the information you need to submit when completing your Health Insurance Marketplace® application, and now it's time to really delve into the specifics of that.
In this guide, I've shared all of the resources and tools that I personally utilize when preparing my application, along with some additional materials. If you have any questions while compiling your information, don’t hesitate to reach out to me. You can also always contact the Marketplace Call Center (1-800-318-2596) or find a wealth of cheat sheets and information on both HealthCare.gov and CMS.gov.
The goal of this activity is to provide you with some practical tips to help you gather all the necessary paperwork for your Marketplace application ahead of time. This way, the actual application process can go quickly and smoothly. It’s really important to be as accurate as possible when filling out your application.
I know it can feel a bit overwhelming at first, but trust me, this checklist is a lifesaver! It actually gets easier each year as you become more familiar with the process. You’ll find that throughout the year, you’ll know exactly what you need for the next Open Enrollment Period, so you can set things aside and be ready to go. Personally, I keep both a digital file folder on my computer and a physical one in my cabinet for my documents, and it really makes things convenient!
Try to think of this as an exciting process if you can because it really will be such a huge relief when you’re done and you know that you’re covered by a health plan. Not just any health plan but one that you can afford, and that you’ve verified will cover the specific needs of you and your family.
We’ll be following along with the Ready to Apply? Checklist (pdf) to make sure you don’t forget anything along the way. It's free to download or print (without having to supply any information or email address) so you can use it now and review it again later to double check your work if needed.
Let’s dive right in and get ready to apply!
If anything is not covered by those links and you’re even a tiny bit unsure of what to do, you can always contact me, call the Marketplace Call Center at 1-800-318-2596, contact Help On Demand, or Find Local Help for more details/assistance. It is EXTREMELY IMPORTANT to get these figures as accurate as you possibly can to avoid delays or issues later if something has to be corrected. It’s also important since income is such a big factor in determining how much financial assistance you may receive.
Make sure to run through your Ready to Apply? Checklist one more time when you think you’ve got everything together, just to be sure. I know it seems like a lot to mess with but it gets easier every time you do it and it will be worth it when you have the peace of mind of knowing that you and your family have health coverage.
Thanks so much for allowing me to provide some guidance through this process. I hope it’s been helpful and that you cruise through your application with the greatest of ease!
(This has been based on a combination of two checklists that I created for myself to use before I do my application each year. The two source documents are:
Get Ready to Apply for or Re-Enroll in Your Health Insurance Marketplace Coverage and
My Marketplace Application Checklist | CMS)
If you or someone in your household is applying WITHOUT A SSN, continue to the next specialty page: No SSN? How to Complete Your Marketplace Application.
If not, the Resources page is a great reference with access to Links Roundup (every link in the Comprehensive Guide & the entire Jensurance website), Ready to Apply? Checklist! to download and/or print, and Glossary of Insurance Terms to Understand Your Plan. Finally, there’s the Infographics Gallery with all of the custom made infographics used in this guide and on my website.
No SSN? How to Complete Your Marketplace Application
Explore the Resources page
Return to the Jensurance home page
Health Insurance Marketplace® is a registered service mark of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.