MOLINE, Illinois — The time is running out to apply for cheaper health insurance under the Affordable Care Act (ACA).
The enrollment deadline, for coverage starting on Jan. 1, is Friday, Dec. 15. The ACA's goal is to help low-income households find healthcare plans within their budgets.
According to Illinois.gov, in 2022, 342,995 ACA Marketplace plans were selected during Open Enrollment, and more than 88% of enrollees received advanced premium tax credits to help lower their monthly health insurance payments. The state's website also said, many consumers can get plans for $10 or less per month.
On the other side of the Mississippi River, the Iowa Insurance Division said only 3% of Iowans use this service. Despite this statistic the number of Iowans applying for the service has been growing every year since 2010.
"I think more and more people are using the ACA market because it has become more affordable with those premium tax credits," Sonya Sellmeyer with the Iowa Insurance Division said. "It wasn't always affordable in the past, it has become a lot more affordable now. So, it is a good option if you don't have health insurance."
Sellmeyer suggested you reach out to a local insurance agent to help look for plans best for your budget, and make those important decisions.
"Health expenses are going up every year, and you want to make sure you have that insurance to cover those expenses and to protect your assets that you already have," Sellmeyer said.
RELATED: UnityPoint Health offering free, heart-healthy cooking classes in January
"If it is too expensive for you, you know, then there might be other options for you," Sellmeyer said. "But this is a really good option, you get good care."
If you miss the Friday, Dec. 15 deadline, the next cut-off for open enrollment is Jan. 15, and those benefits start in February. You can apply by clicking/tapping this link: HealthCare.gov.
Watch more news, weather and sports on News 8's YouTube channel