You or someone you know may qualify for financial help. If you qualify – based on your income and family make-up – you may save (maybe a lot!) on your health insurance premiums and out-of-pocket expenses. But only by going through the exchange in your state. The average savings is expected to be $2,672 per year!* (If you happen to be in Connecticut, see how much you might save.

Your business may qualify for tax credits. Got a business with fewer than 25 full-time employees? And do they make on average less than $50,000 per year? Then your business could save a lot, too. See how much.

“Essential health benefits” are covered. On a state health exchange, you can choose from plans from a variety of carriers. To get there, these plans need to measure up to the new health care law. So you know you’re getting solid coverage. That includes hospitalization, preventive services, prescriptions and much more.

Your health insurance plan may change next year. Even though the exchanges open October 1, coverage doesn’t begin until January 1. And you can continue to sign up until March 31. So keep the exchange in mind as an option. Remember, exchanges are the only place where you can get federal tax credits and subsidies on your coverage.

ObamaCare is more than just subsidies. Now there’s no more medical underwriting. So even if you have a pre-existing condition, you can get covered – and you can’t be “rated up” for any medical condition. There’s no gender rating, so insurance is no longer more expensive for women. There’s also less of a difference in price between older and younger ages. And kids can stay on a parent’s policy until they’re 26.

Get covered, or else. Whether or not you go through an exchange, come January 1 you’ll need to be covered one way or another. If you’re not, you may have to pay a tax penalty – of up to 1% of your family’s income.