Shopping for Individual and Family Plans Online
Shopping for and enrolling in a plan online is convenient and may save time.
You can compare plans and enroll any time during the Open Enrollment Period or a Special Enrollment Period. If you need help at any point during the online enrollment process, call Via Benefits Insurance Services to speak with a licensed benefit advisor* or schedule a call at a time that's convenient for you. To schedule a call, sign in, and then select Speak to an Expert from the Help and Support menu.
Determine if You’re Eligible to Enroll Online
Whether your state uses the Federally Facilitated Marketplace (FFM) or a state-based marketplace (SBM) determines your options for enrolling in an Individual and Family Plan. If your state uses an SBM, you can’t enroll online. Because states may change their marketplace type, enrollment processes and available support options can vary.
FFM States
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SBM States
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If you're renewing an Individual and Family Plan and need to make any of the following coverage changes, call us at 1-866-322-2824 (TTY: 711). Read Marketplace Plan Renewals and Coverage Changes to learn more.
Adding or removing household members.
Updating household information.
Enrolling family members in different plans.
Shop for a Plan
You don’t have to complete your enrollment in a single session. If you need to leave the application, you can return later and continue where you left off, as long as your enrollment deadline hasn’t passed.
To begin shopping for a plan, complete the following steps:
1. Sign in to Via Benefits if you haven't already.
2. Select Shop for Plans in the Shop & Compare section of the Home page.
3. You'll be directed to one of two pages. Review the examples below and follow the steps that match the page displayed on your screen.
If this page appears, select who you’re shopping for, and then select Continue to go to step 4. To add household members, select +Add Member before continuing.
If this page appears, follow these instructions to complete the page:
Select:
The person who needs a plan
The ZIP Code you’re shopping in, if applicable
Individual and Family Plans and who needs to be included in the coverage.
Answer the tobacco question.
Choose why you are shopping today.
Note: When outside the Open Enrollment Period (OEP), select I'm losing group coverage, had a life-changing event, or need to enroll outside of the annual Open Enrollment Period. Then Choose an Enrollment Reason. From the slide-out panel, select an enrollment reason and enter the required information.
For more information about enrollment periods, see Individual and Family Plan Enrollment Periods.Select when you need coverage.
Select Save and Continue. (You’ll be automatically directed to step 7.)
4. Select Individual and Family Plans, then choose who you’d like to include in the coverage. Answer the tobacco question and select Continue.
5. Choose why you are shopping today.
Note: If you need to enroll in a plan outside the Open Enrollment Period (OEP), select Special Enrollment Period, then select Choose an Enrollment Period. From the slide-out panel, select an enrollment reason and enter the required information. When finished, select Continue. For more information about enrollment periods, see Individual and Family Plan Enrollment Periods.
6. Select an enrollment reason, enter the required information, and select Continue. For more information about enrollment periods, see Individual and Family Plan Enrollment Periods.
7. Choose whether you want a plan recommendation and select Continue.
8. If you're currently enrolled in a plan through Via Benefits, the following page will display. Answer the questions about your current plan and select Continue.
9. Answer the questions about your healthcare needs and select Continue.
10. Verify the information you provided is correct, then select Continue.
11. Your Recommendation will appear. Review it and select Continue.
12. Depending on your situation, you may be presented with the option to Shop Private Plans or to Shop Marketplace Plans. Select how you want to shop for your plan.
Consider these factors when choosing between Marketplace and Private plans.
A Marketplace plan may be the right choice if you want to take advantage of available financial assistance.
If you qualify for and choose to receive a Premium Tax Credit (PTC), you must enroll in a Marketplace plan.
If you qualify for and choose to receive Cost-Sharing Reductions (CSRs), you must enroll in a Marketplace Silver plan.
If your employer offers funding, you may still use those funds with a Marketplace plan as long as you don’t accept a PTC or CSR.
A Private plan may be a good option if you’re not eligible for or choose not to use Marketplace financial assistance.
PTCs and CSRs aren’t available with Private plans.
Private plans may offer lower premiums for Silver-tiered coverage than comparable Marketplace plans.
Some Private plans may provide access to a broader provider network than similar Marketplace plans.
If your employer offers funding, you can use those funds with a Private plan.
If you choose to shop for Private plans, see Shopping for Individual and Family Plans Directly Through the Carrier for step-by-step instructions.
If you choose to shop for Marketplace plans, see Shopping for Individual and Family Plans Through the Marketplace for step-by-step instructions.
*Our licensed benefit advisors receive annual training and certification to help Medicare-eligible retirees make informed decisions about their health coverage needs.