Visit healthcare.gov to enroll (Photo by Getty Images)

Open enrollment for the Affordable Care Act marketplace began Nov. 1, 2023 and runs through Jan. 15, 2024. But in order to lock in coverage by the new year, prospective customers must apply and choose a health plan by Dec. 15, 2023.

Anyone can apply by mail, by phone at 800/318-2596, or by filling out an online application at healthcare.gov – the third option being the most common and preferred.

For Central Texans in need of additional guidance, Foundation Communities Prosper Centers offer qualified, objective evaluation of the 132 plans available this year and how they sync up with you and your family’s unique health needs. To make an appointment and find out if you qualify for free counseling, visit foundcom.org/health-coverage, or call one of their two Austin locations.

At an event last week to kick off open enrollment at Prosper Center South, singer-songwriter Kelsi Creek, who suffers from chronic sinus and stomach issues, said, “I definitely wouldn’t be able to afford health care, prescriptions, or be able to get appointments if I didn’t have insurance through HAAM [the Health Alliance for Austin Musicians] partnering with Foundation Communities to make that possible.”

City Council Member Vanessa Fuentes also spoke at the press conference, along with Rep. Lloyd Doggett, who’s taken part in all 11 kickoff events since he helped the ACA become law. He said he is proud of his affiliation with Foundation Communities and its efforts “to enable people to take advantage of the Affordable Care Act.”