Health Insurance Exchange - HIX

Health Insurance Exchanges (HIX)—also known in Maryland as MHIX (Maryland Health Insurance Exchange)—are marketplaces that allow individuals and families to compare and enroll in health plans. You may hear the terms “public exchange” and “private exchange.” InsurancePickle.com is a private health insurance exchange, and we’ve been serving customers since before “health insurance exchange” became a common term. We aggregate multiple carriers in one place—just like a public exchange—but without the $200 million price tag. And we've been doing it for over 15 years.

Public exchanges are run by state or federal governments. In most states, you can buy a health plan either on or off the exchange, and the plans are identical in coverage, price, and rules. The only real difference is that subsidies are only available through public exchanges. If you're in Washington, DC, the law requires that you use the DC exchange. Everywhere else, you have a choice.

To clarify: the Affordable Care Act (ACA), often called “Obamacare,” is a law—not a specific plan. You cannot purchase an “Obamacare” policy. Instead, the ACA governs how plans are categorized and whether they meet federal requirements, such as being qualified or grandfathered.

Browse our articles to better understand how exchanges work. Keep in mind—unless you’re in DC or want to access income-based subsidies—you are not required to use the government-run exchange. In fact, many people find it faster and simpler to purchase their coverage off the exchange. We usually recommend starting off the exchange first, then exploring on-exchange options if needed.

It costs the same no matter where you enroll. So when you're ready, please support our site and purchase your coverage here. Thank you!