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Now that you’re enrolled in a health plan for 2019, you can use your new coverage for regular and emergency care, prescription drugs, and preventive care.

Getting regular & emergency care

• You usually pay the lowest costs for services when you see a doctor who has a contract with your health plan. Visit your health plan’s website and check their provider directory to see which doctors are covered.
• In an emergency, you should get care from the closest hospital. Your insurance company can't charge you more for getting emergency room services at an out-of-network hospital.

Getting prescription medications

• Your health plan will help pay the cost of certain prescriptions. Visit your insurer’s website or review your plan’s Summary of Benefits and Coverage to see which prescriptions are covered by your new Marketplace plan.
• Different health plans allow you to get your medications from different pharmacies. Call your insurance company or visit their website to find out if your regular pharmacy is in-network.

Getting free preventive care

• Marketplace health plans cover a set of preventive services — like shots and screening tests — at no cost to you.
• These services are free only when delivered by a doctor or other provider in your plan’s network.
• Check out the preventive services for all adults, women, and children.

Get more information on using your new coverage.

Starting in 2019, take advantage of the free preventive services — like flu shots and screening tests — available with your Marketplace plan.

What are preventive services?

• Preventive services are routine health care procedures that include screenings, check-ups, and counseling to prevent illnesses, disease, and other health problems. These services can help detect illness early when treatment is likely to work best.
• Preventive services are free when delivered by a doctor or other provider in your plan’s network.
• Visit your health plan’s website and view their provider directory for a list of the doctors, hospitals, and other health care providers that your plan contracts with.

What services are covered?

• For all adults
• For women
• For children

Get more information on preventive and wellness services and chronic disease management.

For most people, the deadline to enroll in 2019 health insurance has passed. But there are two ways you may still be able to get 2019 coverage:

Through Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP)

• Medicaid and CHIP provide free or low-cost health coverage to millions of Americans, including some low-income people, families and children, pregnant women, the elderly, and people with disabilities.
• If eligible, your coverage can start right away, any time of year. Medicaid and CHIP don’t have Open Enrollment Periods.
• Learn more about Medicaid and CHIP, including how to apply.

Through a Special Enrollment Period

• Outside Open Enrollment, you may qualify for a Special Enrollment Period if you have certain life events, like losing health coverage, moving, getting married, having a baby, or adopting a child.
• If you qualify, you usually have up to 60 days following the event to enroll in or change a plan.
• Not sure your life event makes you eligible? Just answer a few fast questions to find out.

Now that you’ve enrolled in 2019 Marketplace insurance, you must pay your monthly premium for your coverage to start. You pay your premiums directly to the insurance company.

How to pay your premium

Each insurance company handles premium payments differently. Follow your plan’s instructions about how and when to pay your premium. Make sure you continue your monthly payments. If you don’t, the insurance company could end your coverage.

You may be able to pay your monthly premium online at HealthCare.gov. Follow these steps:

1. Log in to your Marketplace account.
2. Click your name in the top right, and select "My Applications & Coverage." Choose your application under "Your Existing Applications."
3. Click the blue button "Pay Your First Health Insurance Monthly Premium."
4. If online payment is available, choose the green button "Pay for Health Plan Now" to go to your insurance company’s website to pay.

If your health insurance company doesn't accept online payment, they should have contacted you with next steps. Reach out to them if you haven’t received details on how to pay or aren’t sure if you paid.

Learn more about completing your enrollment by paying your premium.

If you missed the Open Enrollment deadline and didn’t enroll in 2019 Marketplace health insurance, you may still be able to get coverage for 2019 two ways:

Enroll in or change 2019 plans with a Special Enrollment Period

• If you experience certain life changes, like losing health coverage, getting married, or having a baby, you may be eligible for a Special Enrollment Period. This means you may be able to sign up for health insurance at other times during the year.
• See the full list of life events that may qualify you for a Special Enrollment Period.
• Not sure whether your life event qualifies? Answer a few questions to find out.

Apply for Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) any time of year

• Medicaid and CHIP provide free or low-cost health coverage to millions of Americans, including some people with limited income, families and children, pregnant women, the elderly, and people with disabilities.
• If you qualify, your coverage can start right away, any time of year.
• Learn how to apply for Medicaid and CHIP.

Open Enrollment for 2019 Marketplace insurance ends next Saturday, December 15. This means you have just over one week to enroll in, re-enroll in, or change a 2019 Marketplace plan.

Beat the December 15 deadline

• First time applying at HealthCare.gov? Create an account.
• Have 2018 Marketplace insurance? Log in to update your application and compare plans for 2019. If you don’t, you may be automatically re-enrolled for January 1, but you'll miss out on other options. New plans may be available, and your financial assistance may not be correct.

Questions? Help is available

• See tips on picking a plan that’s right for you.
• Get application troubleshooting tips, including what to do if you forgot your username, your password, or the answers to your security questions.
• Find in-person help in your community. Health insurance agents and brokers are available to answer your questions and help you with your application.

You can renew, change, or update your Marketplace plan for 2019 until December 15, 2018. That’s about 2 weeks away! If you don't update your application and enroll in a plan by the deadline, you may be automatically enrolled in a 2019 plan. While automatic enrollment is a good fallback, you may want to choose another option.

Log in, update & compare

• Log in to your HealthCare.gov account to update your application with your expected 2019 income and household information.
• Compare your current plan with other available 2019 plans. You may find a new 2019 plan with coverage and features that better meet your needs — especially if you’re expecting income or household changes.
• Even if you want to keep your same plan, we strongly recommend that you update your information and check out all the plans available to you. If you don’t, you could miss out on savings and a plan better suited for your lifestyle.
• Learn more about changing and renewing coverage for 2019.

Staying healthy is important. This Thanksgiving, give yourself the peace of mind that comes with having health insurance. You have until December 15, 2018 to enroll in or change health insurance for 2019.

Why bother with health insurance?

• Health insurance provides financial protection in case you have a serious accident or illness. For example, a broken leg can cost up to $7,500. Health coverage can help protect you from high, unexpected costs.
• With Marketplace coverage, you’ll get access to preventive services — like shots and screening tests — at no cost to you. Getting recommended preventive services is a key step to good health and well-being.
• When you apply for insurance using the Health Insurance Marketplace, you’ll find out if you qualify for savings that can make insurance less expensive. Before you apply, select your household size, state, and income range to see if you may qualify for financial help.

Ready to apply? See the different ways to apply for 2019 health insurance.

Attention: Open Enrollment ends December 15, 2018. You have just one month to enroll in or change Marketplace health insurance for 2019.

Take action & apply

• There are many ways to apply for and enroll in 2019 Marketplace health coverage. See the different ways to apply.
• If you're applying at HealthCare.gov for the first time, create an account. If you already have one, just log in.

Questions? Help is available

• Get fast answers to your common questions.
• Enter your city and state or ZIP code for a list of local people and organizations in your community that can help.
• Call the Marketplace Call Center to ask a question, start or finish an application, compare plans, or enroll.

You have until December 15, 2018 to enroll in or change 2019 Marketplace health insurance. Before you apply, get a quick idea of what your costs may be.

Is your income in the range to save?

• Choose your household size, state, and income range to see if you may qualify for financial help with a Marketplace plan, or for Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).
• You’ll learn your exact savings and plan prices when you fill out a Marketplace application.

Ready to apply?

• See the different ways to apply for 2019 health insurance.
• If you're applying at HealthCare.gov for the first time, create an account. If you already have one, just log in.