The Health Insurance Marketplace is a service run by the federal government that helps people, families, and small businesses shop for and enroll in health insurance plans. The Marketplace is designed to help consumers find plans personalized to their specific health conditions, preferred doctor/hospital networks, and budget. The Marketplace provides health plan shopping and enrollment services through websites, call centers, and in-person help. Small businesses can use the Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP) Marketplace to provide health insurance for their employees.

When you apply for individual and family coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace, you’ll provide income and household information. You’ll find out if you qualify for premium tax credits and other savings that make insurance more affordable, or coverage through the Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) in your state. All plans offered in the Marketplace cover 10 essential health benefits, including ambulatory patient services, emergency services, hospitalization, maternity and newborn care, mental health and substance use disorder services, prescription drugs, rehabilitative and habilitative services and devices, laboratory services, preventive and wellness services and chronic disease management, and pediatric services.

The Marketplace is available in all states, but some states run their own Marketplaces. The federal government runs the Marketplace for most states. The Marketplace is available online at HealthCare.gov, and you can also contact the Health Insurance Marketplace by telephone.