What is Obamacare (Obama care)? Who qualifies and how to sign up
Obamacare is the Affordable Care Act. It is still the law, and you can still sign up. Here is who qualifies, how it works and what changed.
Last checked October 31, 2026 · Written by licensed advisors · Sources are numbered and listed under Notes and sources
The short answer
Obamacare is the nickname for the Affordable Care Act, the 2010 federal law behind the health plans sold on HealthCare.gov and on state marketplaces such as Get Covered Illinois.
It is still the law, and you can still sign up for 2027 coverage.
Many people get a tax credit that lowers the monthly premium, and for 2027 it is set by a table that runs from 2.15% to 10.22% of income and stops above 4× the poverty line.12
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Obamacare, Obama care and the ACA: same law
Obamacare, Obama care, the Affordable Care Act and the ACA are all the same law. You may see it written any of these ways. Each one points to the same Marketplace plans.
Obama care, in two words, is another spelling of the nickname. The plans, the tax credit and the rules stay the same whatever you call it.1
| The name you hear | What it means |
|---|---|
| Obamacare | The nickname for the law and the plans sold under it |
| Obama care | The same nickname, written as two words |
| Affordable Care Act (ACA) | The official name of the 2010 federal law |
| The Marketplace | Where you compare and buy the plans |
| HealthCare.gov or Get Covered Illinois | The Marketplace websites: Illinois runs its own |
What is Obamacare?
Obamacare is the nickname for the Affordable Care Act, or ACA. It is a federal law signed in 2010. People also use the word for the health plans sold under it.
Every Marketplace plan covers pre-existing conditions and the same core benefits. Many people also get a tax credit that lowers the monthly bill.1
What is the health insurance Marketplace?
The Marketplace is the website where you compare and buy ACA plans. In most states it is HealthCare.gov. Illinois runs its own, called Get Covered Illinois.
You can shop there on your own. You can also have a licensed advisor do it with you, at no charge to you.3
Who qualifies for Obamacare?
You qualify if you live in the U.S., you are a citizen, national or lawfully present, you are not incarcerated, and you do not have Medicare.
A tax credit is separate. It is for household incomes from 100% to 400% of the poverty line. In states that expanded Medicaid, including Illinois, lower incomes usually go to Medicaid instead.
If you are not sure whether your immigration status counts, ask an immigration attorney or an accredited representative. We explain plans. We can’t advise on status.45
How do I sign up for Obamacare?
Apply on HealthCare.gov, or on Get Covered Illinois if you live in Illinois. Open enrollment on HealthCare.gov runs November 1 to January 15.
Choose a plan by December 15 for coverage that starts January 1. Plans chosen from December 16 to January 15 start February 1. State marketplaces set their own dates.
Outside open enrollment you need a qualifying life event, such as losing other coverage.67
- 1. GatherIncome and who is in your household
- 2. ApplyHealthCare.gov, or Get Covered Illinois in Illinois
- 3. ComparePlans, doctors and prescriptions
- 4. ChooseOn HealthCare.gov: by December 15 for January 1 (key step)
- 5. PayThe first premium starts your coverage
What to do: Call us before you apply. We check your income estimate, your doctors and your prescriptions first.
Is Obamacare ending?
No. The Affordable Care Act is still the law, and Marketplace plans are still sold for 2027.
What changed is the money. The extra tax credits ended after 2025. Above 4× the poverty line there is no tax credit. Starting with tax year 2026, there is no cap on paying back extra credit.
The most a plan can make you pay in 2027 is $12,000 for one person.289
- 2010The Affordable Care Act becomes law
- End of 2025The extra tax credits end
- 2026Tax credits stop above 4× the poverty line, and repayment has no cap
- 2027Plans are still sold on the Marketplace (key step)
What to do: Read what changed for 2027 and what to do about each change.
How much does Obamacare cost?
It depends on your income, age, county and plan. With a tax credit, you are expected to pay a set share of your income toward a benchmark silver plan. In 2027 that share runs from 2.15% to 10.22%.
The credit covers the rest. Above 4× the poverty line you pay the full price.2
What to do: See worked examples by income in the cost guide, or ask us for your own numbers. Example figures are not a quote.
What changed for 2027, in numbers
Three numbers matter most for 2027: the share of income you are expected to pay, the point where the tax credit stops, and what happens if your income estimate is too low.
The table is the IRS table for tax year 2027. It is not your personal result. Your own share depends on where your income falls inside each band.10119
| Household income, as a share of the poverty line | Share of income expected toward a benchmark silver plan, 2027 |
|---|---|
| Under 133% | 2.15% |
| 133% to under 150% | 3.23% rising to 4.3% |
| 150% to under 200% | 4.3% rising to 6.78% |
| 200% to under 250% | 6.78% rising to 8.66% |
| 250% to under 300% | 8.66% rising to 10.22% |
| 300% to 400% | 10.22% |
| Above 400% | No tax credit |
Heads up: Starting with tax year 2026, you repay the full amount of any extra advance tax credit. The old repayment limits no longer apply. The most a plan can make you pay in 2027 is $12,000 for one person or $24,000 for a family.
Obamacare in 2027: what changes
Open enrollment on HealthCare.gov runs November 1, 2026 to January 15, 2027. Choose a plan by December 15 for coverage that starts January 1. Plans chosen December 16 to January 15 start February 1. Get Covered Illinois lists the same dates.
There is no tax credit above 4× the poverty line, which is $63,840 for one person or $132,000 for a family of four. If you get more credit than your final income allows, there is no cap on paying it back.
In Illinois, Cigna and Molina plans won’t be sold on Get Covered Illinois from January 1, 2027. Their members need to choose a new plan during open enrollment.6121314
- November 1, 2026Open enrollment starts (key step)
- December 15Last day to choose a plan that starts January 1 (key step)
- January 15, 2027Open enrollment ends
- February 1, 2027Coverage starts for plans chosen December 16 to January 15
Heads up: Choose after December 15 and your plan starts February 1, not January 1.
What to do: Read every 2027 change, who it hits and what to do, in our 2027 changes guide.
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Related guides
Obamacare Hotline and/or Medicare Po Polsku are private companies not affiliated with any local, state, or federal government agency. This guide is general information, not tax or legal advice.