HealthCare.gov blog

Your kids can get the care they need for allergies, asthma, or just a common cold. And you can breathe easier knowing that coverage is just a click or phone call away.

Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) offer free or low-cost health coverage for kids and teens up to age 19. Parents may be eligible for Medicaid too.

It’s important that you know where to go for medical care when you need it. There are some big differences between visits to your primary care provider and visits to the emergency room, such as cost, time spent waiting for care, and follow up.

Getting regular medical care: Primary care providers work with you to ensure that you get the right preventive services, manage your chronic conditions, and improve your health. Before you go to the doctor’s office, clinic, or health center, visit your health plan’s website and check their provider directory online. You can also call your insurer directly with questions or call a provider to see if they accept your health plan.

Young adults have several options for getting covered through the Health Insurance Marketplace^®.

You may qualify for a Special Enrollment Period and not even know it. Did you recently get married, have a baby, adopt a child, or move? Did your student health plan just expire? If so, you may be able to get Marketplace coverage outside of Open Enrollment.

Health coverage pays for provider services, medications, hospital care, and special equipment when you’re sick. It’s also important when you’re not sick. Marketplace coverage includes preventive health services like immunizations for children and adults, annual doctor visits for women and seniors, screening and counseling for people of all ages, and more. The best news – it’s free.

Once you have Marketplace coverage, it’s important to report life changes. This information may change the coverage or savings you’re eligible for. Here are 7 things to know about reporting life changes:

While Marketplace health coverage is important, there’s no substitute for living a healthy lifestyle. Staying healthy increases the chances you’ll be there for your family and friends for many years to come. Use your Marketplace health coverage when you are sick and when you are well, to help you live a long and healthy life.

If you lose your job and are no longer covered through your employer, you may be able to find affordable health coverage in the Marketplace.

While most people provided all the data they needed on their applications, some consumers were asked for follow-up when they applied for Marketplace coverage. If we asked you for information to back up what you put on your application, we need your help. Sometimes the information in your application doesn’t match what we found in other records. You were still able to finish the enrollment process, but you need to follow up as soon as possible and provide more documents to make sure the Marketplace has the correct information.

We’re working hard to make it easy for you to keep your current Marketplace coverage when your health plan comes up for renewal.

Affordable coverage options are available in the Health Insurance Marketplace^® for immigrant families. If you’ve recently moved to the United States and had a change in your immigration status, here are some things you should know about Marketplace coverage: