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

Shoring Up the Health Insurance Marketplaces: Learning from Medicare’s Prescription Drug Program


By Timothy S. Jost
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To the Point

Selling Health Insurance Across State Lines Is Unlikely to Lower Costs or Improve Choice


By Sabrina Corlette, Kevin Lucia
To the Point

Loss of Cost-Sharing Reductions in the ACA Marketplace: Impact on Consumers and Insurer Participation


By JoAnn Volk, Dania Palanker, Justin Giovannelli, Kevin Lucia
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To the Point

Why the House Repeal Bill Is Unlikely to Stabilize Insurance Markets


By Timothy S. Jost
To the Point

The Financial Consequences of Terminating the ACA’s Cost-Sharing Reduction Payments


By Mark A. Hall, Michael J. McCue
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Publication

Building the Coverage Continuum: The Role of State Medicaid Directors and Insurance Commissioners


By Joel Ario, Deborah Bachrach
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Publication

Efforts to Support Consumer Enrollment Decisions Using Total Cost Estimators: Lessons from the Affordable Care Act’s Marketplaces


By Justin Giovannelli, Emily Curran
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Publication

How the Affordable Care Act Has Improved Americans’ Ability to Buy Health Insurance on Their Own


By Sara R. Collins, Munira Z. Gunja, Michelle M. Doty, Sophie Beutel
To the Point

Making Health Care Markets Work Better: The Role of Regulation


By Stuart Guterman
To the Point

State Experiences Show Why Repealing the ACA’s Premium Subsidies and Individual Mandate Would Cripple Individual Health Insurance Markets


By Justin Giovannelli, Kevin Lucia
To the Point

States That Leaned In on the Affordable Care Act Have Much to Lose


By Sabrina Corlette, Emily Curran, Justin Giovannelli
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Publication

Repealing the ACA Could Result in 2.6 Million Jobs Lost in 2019