Commonwealth Fund

Affordable, quality health care. For everyone.

Health Insurance Marketplaces

Short-term plans lead to large bills for consumers

Short-Term Plans: No Provider Networks Lead to Large Bills for Consumers

| To The Point

Featured

ACA Marketplace Open Enrollment Numbers Reveal the Impact of State-Level Policy and Operational Choices on Performance

| To The Point

The Administration Tried to Make It Easier for States to Waive ACA Rules: Will Any Take the Plunge?

| To The Point

Short-Term Health Plans Sold Through Out-of-State Associations Threaten Consumer Protections

| To The Point

Pros and Cons of Different Public Health Insurance Options: A Guide for 2020 Democratic Presidential Candidates

| Journal Article
Health Insurance Marketplaces

Under the Affordable Care Act, people can purchase health plans through state-based health insurance marketplaces. The marketplaces make it easier for people to compare and select health plans, and most low- and middle-income consumers are eligible for federal subsidies that make coverage more affordable.

Our Experts
Sara Collins

Sara R. Collins

Vice President, Health Care Coverage and Access
Munira Z. Gunja

Munira Z. Gunja

Senior Researcher, Health Care Coverage and Access
In the News
man consults with doctor
read on: AJMC
State Regulation of Insurance Markets Can Alleviate Administration Proposals, Report Says
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The Affordable Care Act’s Health Insurance Marketplaces by Type

Use this interactive map to review the status of state action on health insurance marketplaces.

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promo aca marketplace map

The Latest in Health Insurance Marketplaces

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To the Point

On the Road to Recovery: Health Insurers’ 2016 Financial Performance in the Individual Market


By Michael J. McCue, Mark A. Hall
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How Did State-Run Health Insurance Marketplaces Fare in 2017?


By Justin Giovannelli, Emily Curran
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To the Point

Health Insurance Markets Perform Better in States That Run Their Own Marketplaces


By Mark A. Hall, Michael J. McCue
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Publication

Competition and Premium Costs in Single-Insurer Marketplaces: A Study of Five Rural States


By Jon R. Gabel, Heidi Whitmore, Matthew Green, Sam Stromberg
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The Arc of History Bends Toward Coverage: Health Policy at a Crossroads


By James A. Morone, David Blumenthal, M.D.
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Americans’ Views on Health Insurance at the End of a Turbulent Year


By Sara R. Collins, Munira Z. Gunja, Michelle M. Doty, Herman K. Bhupal
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Publication

Commonwealth Fund Affordable Care Act Tracking Survey, November–December 2017


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To the Point

Proposed Federal Changes to Short-Term Health Coverage Leave Regulation to States


By Dania Palanker, Kevin Lucia, Sabrina Corlette, Maanasa Kona
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To the Point

Idaho’s Proposal for State-Based Plans Violates the Affordable Care Act


By Timothy S. Jost
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To the Point

Association Health Plans: Maintaining State Authority Is Critical to Avoid Fraud, Insolvency, and Market Instability


By Kevin Lucia, Sabrina Corlette
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To the Point

Insurer Participation in ACA Marketplaces: Federal Uncertainty Triggers Diverging Business Strategies


By Emily Curran, Justin Giovannelli, Kevin Lucia
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To the Point

Young Adults Will Be Among the Last-Minute ACA Enrollees This Week: How Have the Coverage Expansions Affected Them?


By Munira Z. Gunja, Sophie Beutel, Sara R. Collins