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ACA OPEN ENROLLMENT BEGINS: THINGS TO KNOW In spite of the changes in Georgia for open enrollment under the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, much about the process remains the same for customers. They can still go to the federal website and try to enroll themselves. And if they run into snags, they still have resources.

Q: Where is ground zero for open enrollment?

A: As always, enrollment happens on healthcare.gov, the Affordable Care Act website. The phone number is 800318-2596. People can go there themselves or with the assistance of an ACA navigator or insurance agent.

Q: Can I get help?

A: Things have changed, but there’s still help. Georgia’s new federally approved navigator organization is Georgia Refugee Health and Mental Health. Though it hasn’t added a new name for open enrollment, it is serving everyone now, not just refugees. Its number is 888-230-7772. Insure Georgia, a statewide navigator in previous years, is no longer a navigator, but its staffers have registered as insurance agents to keep helping people enroll. Insure Georgia is still available at 866988-8246 and insurega.org. Insurance agents that handle ACA plans are listed on healthcare.gov.

Q: How long do I have?

A: Open enrollment’s end date is Dec. 15. Last year, Georgia got an extension because of the hurricanes in 2017, but there’s been no federal announcement of an extension yet following Hurricane Michael.

Q: What if I don’t want insurance?

A: The individual mandate that all Americans buy health insurance still exists, but it now has no teeth. The tax penalty for not buying health insurance is now $0. But you still have to pay for medical care.

Q: How are the prices?

A: You’ll have to look to find out. But unlike last year, in general this year didn’t see a big spike, and many prices actually went down.