the good news is you have several options. on october 1 2013 you can fill out an application to receive coverage on your state’s health insurance exchange. exchanges are designed to help lower premium costs through health insurance competition and risk pooling. these rates may already be affordable for you. if not you may be eligible for subsidies on the exchanges. your exchange application will calculate your eligibility for subsidies. you may also qualify for medicare or medicaid which are publicly funded health insurance programs. the health insurance exchange application will also tell you if you qualify for these as medicaid eligibility varies by state. if you are 65 years of age or older you are automatically enrolled in medicare. those who have exhausted their options to find affordable coverage will be exempt from the individual mandate which would otherwise require them to have insurance or pay a fine.
i want health insurance but i can't afford it. what can i do?