The Marketplace bases savings on your estimated income for the year you want coverage – not last year’s income.

• Here’s an easy way to estimate your income for the Marketplace.
• Here are more details on the kinds of income that count.

You can change your plan any time through January 31.

• January 1, 2016: 2016 coverage starts for those who enrolled or changed plans by December 17

• January 15, 2016: Last day to enroll in or change plans for new coverage to start February 1, 2016

• January 31, 2016: 2016 Open Enrollment ends. Enrollments or changes between January 16 and January 31 take effect March 1, 2016.

• After January 31, 2016: You can still buy a health plan only if you qualify for a Special Enrollment period. Learn more about life changes that qualify for a Special Enrollment Period.

Most households include:

• The person applying for coverage
• Their spouse if they’re married
• Anybody they claim as a dependent on their federal tax return – including those who don’t need health coverage.

When you apply, you can say which household members need coverage and which don’t.

• By phone

• With a trained helper

• With a health insurance agent or broker who's certified by the Marketplace

• With a mailed paper application

It’s any accurate, detailed record of your self-employment income and expenses.

If you had a Marketplace insurance plan in 2015, you should have received 2 letters by mail or email, one from your insurance company and one from the Health Insurance Marketplace.

• If your plan is available for 2016, and if it’s changing
• How much it will cost in 2016
• How to compare, change, or keep plans

If you do nothing you’ll be automatically re-enrolled in your 2015 plan (or a similar plan) for 2016. This way you won’t have a gap in coverage.

Log in to your account, select your pre-filled 2016 application, and follow the directions on screen.

You can just log in to your Marketplace account, select your pre-filled 2016 application, update your information, and enroll in a plan – even if you wind up staying with the same plan. If you have questions, contact the Marketplace Call Center or your insurance company.

The only way to be sure your premium tax credit and other savings are accurate is to log in and update your application for 2016. Make changes based on the income and household you expect for 2016, not last year’s information.

See plans and prices for 2016.

The Marketplace bases savings on your estimated income for the year you want coverage – not last year’s income.

• Here’s an easy way to estimate your income for the Marketplace.
• Here are more details on the kinds of income that count.

The only way to know for sure is to fill out an application. But to get a quick idea:

• Just enter the number of people in your household and your state. We’ll show you the income ranges that may qualify for savings on a health insurance plan or for Medicaid.

If you don’t have coverage for all or part of the year, you may have to pay a fee.

• For 2015 the fee is $325 per person ($162.50 per child) or 2% of your household income, whichever is higher.
• For 2016 the fee is $695 per person ($347.50 per child) or 2.5% of your household income, whichever is higher.
• Get details on the penalty.
• Some people qualify for a health coverage exemption, which means they don’t have to pay the penalty. See who qualifies for an exemption.

If you qualify for “cost-sharing reductions” based on your income and you enroll in a plan in the Silver category, you’ll have a lower deductible and have lower copayments and coinsurance when you get care.

Most households include:

• The person applying for coverage
• Their spouse if they’re married
• Anybody they claim as a dependent on their federal tax return – including those who don’t need health coverage.

When you apply, you can say which household members need coverage and which don’t.

See plans and prices for 2016.

Search for trained assisters in your local community. They can meet with you in-person or by phone and help you through the whole process.

You can sign up for a Marketplace dental plan only when you enroll in a Marketplace health plan.

• After you select a health plan, either online or by phone, you’ll be asked if you want to shop for dental plans. You can say yes or no.
• Once your Marketplace health coverage starts, you can’t go back and add a dental plan.
• You can’t enroll in just a dental plan through HealthCare.gov.

You can enroll in dental-only coverage outside the Marketplace any time. You’ll find many companies, agents, and brokers offering dental plans online.

You can apply 2 ways:

• Fill out a Marketplace application any time of year. If it looks like you qualify for Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), we’ll send your information to your state agency. They’ll contact you. Start an application now.
• Apply directly to your state agency. Visit our Medicaid page and select your state to get contact information.

You can do a quick check to see if you may qualify before you apply.

First create an account. Visit this page, select your state, and we’ll tell you your next steps. After you create an account, we’ll take you to start your application.

When we ask you for documents, uploading is the fastest way to get them processed.

• See how to upload documents.