What is an Affordable Care Act (ACA) plan?

The comprehensive healthcare reform law, known commonly as ACA or Obamacare, requires qualified insurers to provide individual health insurance plans to enrollees that meet the minimum essential coverage requirements. These plans are designed to make healthcare more affordable and to provide coverage to everyone, including those with pre-existing conditions.

With an ACA health plan, you pay a monthly premium and typically, a co-pay when you visit your doctor. When choosing your plan, it's important to look at the deductible, which is the amount of money you pay before your insurance “kicks in,” and your out-of-pocket maximum, which is the total amount of money you pay annually before your insurance covers you 100%.

Also, keep in mind, that while all ACA health insurance plans include dental and vision coverage for children, they may not include it for adults. If you need vision and dental coverage, and your plan doesn't include it, you'll have to purchase it separately.