Affordable Care Act (ACA):
How Can Families Enroll if They Can’t Access the Marketplace?
You may have heard media reports about the website on healthcare.gov being slow, crashing, etc. Recently there have been fixes to the on-line Marketplace which should make it easier for families to enroll. Improvements are continuing and it is noted on the website that daily maintenance occurs between 1a.m. and 5a.m. But not all families have computers or access to the Internet.
The deadline for applying for insurance on the Marketplace to ensure getting covered by January 1, 2014 was originally 12/15/13. The deadline was just extended by a week to 12/23/13. This means that individuals who enroll by that deadline will have coverage that becomes effective on 1/1/14. Open enrollment for this year continues until 3/31/14. New coverage would be effective in the month following the date of enrollment by midmonth; or the second month after enrolling from the middle of the previous month until the end of that month. But for families who want coverage right away in January, the deadline is 12/23!
What if families need help or can’t enroll online?
There are actually 4 ways to enroll. Besides online, families can call, apply by mail, or even get help in person. Here’s a breakdown of options:
- Online applications can be found at
- Telephone hotline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at (800) 318-2596.
Note: Families can also call the hotline to obtain a paper application or to find an in-person assister. Saying "representative" at any point will take you to a live person. Also, keep in mind that, if a family is not satisfied with a representative’s responses, they can call back and speak to another representative.
- Download, print, and mail an application found at
- For families that need help, there are in-person assistors which can be found at In addition, Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) which can be found at are also helping people to enroll.
For more information on the different ways to apply, see .
What if families need healthcare now?
Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) provide care for families who don’t have insurance either free or low cost based on income. Families can find their closest FQHC at For emergencies, hospitals have what is called “charity care” for the uninsured. But starting in January, most families will have health coverage. Now it’s easier to apply than ever. Don’t wait until the last minute and don’t miss the deadline!
If you need more information, please feel free to contact SPAN at 800-654-7726!
This tip sheet was authored by Lauren Agoratus, M.A. Laurenis the parent of a child with multiple disabilitieswho serves as the Coordinator for Family Voices-NJ and as the southern coordinator in her the New Jersey Family-to-Family Health Information Center, both housed at the Statewide Parent Advocacy Network (SPAN) at .
More of Lauren’s tips about the ACA can be found on the website of the Family Voices National Center for Family/Professional Partnerships: .
This publication was developed in partnership with
Family Voices, Inc. 3701 San Mateo Blvd. NE, Suite 103, Albuquerque, NM 87110 505-872-4774