• The health insurance marketplace is the gateway for individuals, families and small businesses to access health insurance.

  • It was created after the passage of the Affordable Care Act.
  • The marketplace is available for those who do not have access to employer-sponsored health insurance plans.
  • Marketplace allows different insurance companies to compete for customers by offering different plans depending on cost and needs.
  • A number of states have trading floors, and the federal government has a stock exchange.