 [ Symptoms ] if i do not qualify for a subsidy for health insurance do i have to go through the exchange  or can i contact the insurance company directly [ Disease ] if you do not qualify for a subsidy you can shop outside of the exchange and it would be a good idea for you to do so because you will have a wider selection of plans from which to choose you can buy insurance directly through an insurer or work with an insurance agent to consider a wider range of options