Applying for Health Coverage Online: The Affordable Care Act Helps Americans Enroll

One goal of the Affordable Care Act is to eliminate enrollment barriers. The law requires states to each develop one streamlined online application for Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and premiums tax credits.

This brief explores the key components of the law that pertain to online applications, and it examines promising practices of several states that can help other states reduce barriers and streamline enrollment.

Each state will face different challenges in implementing a consumer-friendly online application. This brief can help states learn from each other and develop best practices for creating and implementing successful online application systems.