The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, commonly known as the Affordable Care Act (or ACA for short), is the comprehensive health care reform law enacted in March 2010. The ACA was established to help many more people get the health coverage they need.

Learn more about the Affordable Care Act at HealthCare.gov.

According to the Affordable Care Act of 2010, you are entitled to enroll in an Individual and Family Plan as long as you are living in the U.S. lawfully and are not incarcerated or covered by Medicare.

All plans offered to people who purchase an Individual and Family plan must include the 10 Essential Health Benefits (EHBs) listed below:

1. Hospitalization
2. Prescription drugs
3. Laboratory services
4. Pregnancy, maternity and newborn care
5. Ambulatory outpatient services
6. Emergency services
7. Mental health and substance use disorders
8. Rehabilitative care
9. Preventive and wellness services
10. Chronic disease management

During Open Enrollment, which runs from November 1, 2023 to January 15, 2024 this year, you can buy a new plan, renew your plan, or make changes to your plan.

During the Special Enrollment Period, after January 15, 2024, you may be able to shop for or make changes to your plan if you have had a qualifying life, including loss of health coverage, changes to your household like getting married or having a baby, or a change in residence.

If you applied for coverage through Pennie®, Pennsylvania’s official health coverage marketplace, and want to make changes to your plan, you will need to contact Pennie.