Obamacare Is Up and Running

Get ready to enroll in the health insurance marketplace.

Open Enrollment Starts Oct. 1 - Enrollment for the Health Care Open Market begins today. Uninsured middle class and lower income Americans can finally begin signing up for health-care plans. While there are plenty of myths out there, get the facts and get ready to enroll. —Kellee Terrell(Photo: REUTERS/Jonathan Alcorn)

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Open Enrollment Starts Oct. 1 - Enrollment for the Health Care Open Market begins today. Uninsured middle class and lower income Americans can finally begin signing up for health-care plans. While there are plenty of myths out there, get the facts and get ready to enroll. —Kellee Terrell(Photo: REUTERS/Jonathan Alcorn)

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ACA Will Help Improve Black Health - Given that African-Americans disproportionately suffer from preventable chronic diseases such as diabetes, obesity, heart disease and hypertension, increased access to preventive care will help better our health. (Photo: Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

African-Americans Accessing Care - It’s estimated that 6.8 million uninsured Blacks will have the opportunity to purchase a plan through the open marketplace. A whopping 56 percent of that 6.8 million comprise of Black men. (Photo: REUTERS/Larry Downing) 

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African-Americans Accessing Care - It’s estimated that 6.8 million uninsured Blacks will have the opportunity to purchase a plan through the open marketplace. A whopping 56 percent of that 6.8 million comprise of Black men. (Photo: REUTERS/Larry Downing) 

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Getting on Your Parents’ Insurance  - Are you 26 or younger and uninsured and your parents have insurance? The good news is that thanks to the ACA you can be added to their plan. Since 2010, more than 500,000 young people have gained access to health care by this age extension. If your parents are enrolling in the marketplace, have a conversation with them to find out if it is best to be on their plan or for you to purchase your own. (Photo: Teekid/GettyImages)

On the Rise - While still on the mend, Obamacare enrollment was much stronger in its second month. According to the latest report, approximately 365,000 have purchased private insurance and 803,000 have been determined to be eligible for the public Medicaid program.   (Photo: Christopher Futcher/Getty Images)

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Young People Will Not Be Affected by High Premiums - Only a mere 3 percent of young folks will be affected by high monthly premiums for health care. Upworthy.com says here’s why: 48 percent of young people have insurance through their jobs; 28 percent of the uninsured won’t be affected by increases; 14 percent have Medicaid or military insurance; and 7 percent of young people will qualify for subsidized insurance. (Photo: Christopher Futcher/Getty Images)

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What to Do Before You Apply - Health.gov suggests doing the four following things before you apply: Learn how the marketplace works; educate yourself on which plan is best for you and your budget; don’t be afraid to get personal help on understanding health-care reform; and feel free to call health.gov toll-free for one-on-one advice on enrolling.  (Photo: KAREN BLEIER/AFP/Getty Images)

Photo By KAREN BLEIER/AFP/Getty Images

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Enrolling If You Don’t Have a Computer - While many may have a smartphone with Internet, not everyone has a computer in the house to enroll for health care online. But that’s OK! Call 1-800-318-2596 to get started. (photo: GettyImages)

Why Is There a Penalty? - “When someone without health coverage gets urgent — often expensive — medical care but doesn't pay the bill, everyone else ends up paying the price,” writes HealthCareGov. This is why the law requires that people who can afford health care pay for it or pay the price for not having it. (Photo: Courtesy healthcare.gov)

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When Your Coverage Kicks In - The marketplace is open from Oct. 1 to March 31, 2014. If you enroll by December 14, your health care will kick in Jan 1. If you enroll from Dec. 14 to Jan. 31, your insurance kicks in on Feb 1, 2014. If you wait until February to March 31, your coverage won’t begin until April. And if you don’t sign up, you will have to pay a penalty.  (Photo: Courtesy Healthcare.gov)

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Affordable Care Act - "Congress should do its best to ensure that the health care law is a success," says Howard University political scientist Michael Fauntroy. "Republicans have been doing all they can to try to shoot it down, which at some level is literally operating against the best interests of the country."   (Photo: Bill O'Leary/The Washington Post via Getty Images)

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Medicaid Expansion Makes All the Difference - Medicaid expansion will gain millions of young people health care who didn’t have it before. But because some GOP-led states have rejected the expansion, it’s estimated that half of uninsured young people will go without affordable health care. And only 17 percent of these young people can be put on their parents’ insurance.  (Photo: Bill O'Leary/The Washington Post via Getty Images)