What is it? 
The ACA, short for the Affordable Care Act (and often called "Obamacare"), is a comprehensive U.S. health care reform law enacted in 2010. Its primary goal is to make health insurance more accessible and affordable while protecting consumers from common insurance company practices.

   How to enroll? 
In Washington state, you do not use the federal website (Healthcare.gov). Instead, you use the state’s own dedicated marketplace, Washington Healthplanfinder. https://www.wahealthplanfinder.org/ 

   When to enroll?
November 1: Open Enrollment begins to obtain coverage on January 1.
December 15: The deadline to enroll if you want your coverage to start on January 1.  
January 15: The final deadline to enroll with coverage starting February 1.

   What is the Special Enrollment Period? 
If you missed the deadline, you can only enroll if you have a Qualifying Life Event. This opens a 60-day window for you to sign up. Common events include:  
Loss of Health Coverage: Losing a job, "aging out" of a parent's plan at 26, or losing Medicaid/CHIP eligibility.  
Household Changes: Getting married, having a baby, adopting a child, or a death in the family that affects coverage.  
Residence Changes: Moving to a different ZIP code or county.  
Other: Becoming a U.S. citizen or leaving incarceration.

   What does it cover? 
Pre-existing Conditions: Insurers cannot deny you coverage or charge you more because of a health condition you already have (like asthma, diabetes, or cancer).    
Essential Health Benefits: All ACA-compliant plans must cover 10 basic categories, including emergency services, maternity care, mental health, and prescription drugs.  https://www.healthcare.gov/coverage/what-marketplace-plans-cover/  
Preventive Care: Services like flu shots, screenings, and annual wellness visits are covered at no cost to you. https://www.healthcare.gov/coverage/preventive-care-benefits/