Simply put, you can buy insurance that complies with the requirements of the ACA directly from a health insurance provider (like Anthem/BlueCross; United/GoldenRule, etc.).
Why buy direct?
So why not buy it through the government marketplace? Because sometimes you’ll get a better price, features or benefits by cutting out the government middleman.
How to buy direct
Just go to the insurance companies websites and you can either apply online or call their number and work through it on the phone.
Not all insurance companies offer policies in all states.
The biggest are listed first and operate in most states:
- Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield or 888.630.2583.
- UnitedHealthCare / GoldenRule, UHC, 1-800-273-8115
- Cigna
- Aetna / Coventry; or 1-800-872-3862 between 8:00am and 6:00pm ET
- Kaiser Permenente
- Humana
Compare!
COmpare plans from different providers, compare plans from the marketplace, compare different levels of coverage. Take your time and think it through carefully! Whatever you choose, you’ll likely be stuck with it for a year!