To speak with a licensed agent, call (231) 346-7122 (TTY 711 M-F, 9am-5pm) or email Jennifer@MedicareInsuranceGuru.com
McDonnell Insurance

Affordable Care Act (Obamacare)

(231) 346-7122 // Jennifer@MedicareInsuranceGuru.com

The ACA health insurance marketplace is the online exchange operated by the Federal government or states in which individuals and small businesses can purchase health insurance.

Individual and Family Marketplace

The health insurance exchange offers comprehensive plans at different prices for individuals and families who don’t receive health coverage through an employer. Depending on income, applicants may be eligible for subsidies or tax credits that help make coverage more affordable.

Small Business Marketplace

Small business employers with fewer than 50 full-time or full-time equivalent employees and who do not offer health insurance coverage may obtain coverage through the Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP). Employers can choose from different plans, compare premiums, and offer tax credits.

Enrollment Process and Deadlines

Individuals and businesses may enroll in health insurance plans offered through the marketplace during the open enrollment period, which usually begins in late fall and ends in early winter. Depending on the state, there may be extended or emergency enrollment periods for individuals and businesses.

ACA Health Insurance Plans

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) offers a range of plans to help Americans get coverage and stay healthy. There are four plan categories- Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum- with different levels of coverage and out-of-pocket costs.

Understanding the differences between them and evaluating factors like premiums, deductibles, and networks can help you choose the right plan for your healthcare needs.

ACA Plan Categories

The ACA created four different plan categories- Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum- to help people find coverage that meets their needs and budget. Bronze plans generally have lower premiums and higher deductibles and out-of-pocket costs, while Platinum plans have the highest premiums and lowest deductibles and out-of-pocket costs.

Here is an overview of each plan category:

Bronze Plans:
Bronze plans are the lowest tier of plans offered by the ACA. These plans typically have the lowest premiums and offer the least coverage of the four categories, but also feature the highest overall out-of-pocket costs to individuals. Those who complete an annual income tax return may qualify for a premium tax credit, which reduces monthly costs and increases the coverage received.
  • Lowest premiums
  • Highest deductibles and out-of-pocket costs
Silver Plans:
Silver plans are a slightly higher tier than Bronze plans. These plans typically have higher premiums than Bronze plans, but also offer more coverage with lower overall out-of-pocket costs. Like Bronze plans, individuals and families may qualify for a premium tax credit to reduce their monthly payments.
  • Middle range of premiums
  • Lower deductibles and out-of-pocket costs than Bronze plans
Gold Plans:
Gold plans are the second highest tier of plans offered by the ACA. These plans typically have even higher premiums than Bronze and Silver plans, but with an even greater level of coverage. Gold plans also feature the lowest out-of-pocket costs of the four plan categories.
  • Higher premiums
  • Lower deductibles and out-of-pocket costs than Silver plans
Platinum Plans:
Platinum plans are the highest tier of plans offered under the ACA. These plans have the highest premiums of the four categories but with the highest level of coverage offered and the lowest out-of-pocket costs.
  • Highest premiums
  • Lowest deductibles and out-of-pocket costs

ACA Enrollment Options

Under the ACA, individuals can obtain health insurance through either the Healthcare.gov marketplace, or a state-based marketplace. Healthcare.gov is a federally facilitated marketplace that offers healthcare coverage to individuals in all 50 states, as well as the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, and Guam. State-based marketplaces are independently operated, and offer their own suite of health insurance plans to individuals in their respective states.

Free Assistance for Enrollment and Application Process

As licensed agents, Trusted Network Insurance can explain your enrollment options, provide you with an overview of the associated costs, help you apply for subsidies, and assist you with the application process… all at NO COST to you! Contact us today for assistance!

Get Free Medicare Assistance

Friendly, licensed professionals are available to answer all of your questions. Call (231) 346-7122 or complete the form below and we’d be happy to reach out to you.







      By submitting this information, you acknowledge a licensed insurance agent, Jennifer McDonnell, may contact you by phone, email, or mail to discuss Medicare Advantage Plans, Medicare Supplement Insurance, or Prescription Drug Plans.

      Close Accessibility Tools
      Accessibility Controls Reset
      Content Adjustments
      Font Size

      Default

      Line Height

      Default

      Content Scaling

      Default

      Highlight Titles
      Highlight Links
      Highlight Forms
      Align Left
      Align Center
      Align Right
      Focus Mode
      Color Adjustments
      Desaturate
      Monochrome
      Contrast

      Default

      Saturation

      Default

      Accessibility Statement

      Despite our attempts to make this website accessible for everyone, there may still be some pages or sections that are not completely accessible, are in the process of becoming accessible, or do not have a suitable technological solution to make them accessible. Nevertheless, we are always striving to enhance our accessibility by adding, updating, improving its options and features, and incorporating new technologies.

      We want to provide our users with the best experience possible, so we strive to support as many browsers and assistive technologies as possible.

      If you wish to contact this website's owner, please use the contact form on the website.

      Our User Interface Adjustment Options

      Font adjustments - With this tool, users can modify font size, style, letter spacing, and line height for improved alignment and readability.

      Color adjustments - Users can customize their color contrast profiles to light, dark, desaturated, and monochrome.

      Content highlighting - Users can prioritize key elements such as links, forms, and titles.

      Content focus - Users can enable focus mode to highlight the current page information based on their mouse movement.

      Close