When the Affordable Care Act (ACA) was passed in 2010, Covered California became the Golden State’s health insurance exchange marketplace. This marketplace has since allowed both individuals and small businesses to purchase insurance at lower costs.

I’m sure you’ve asked yourself, “How do I sign up for Covered California and subsidy plans?” Before you can, you’ll need to apply for Covered California to determine what you’re eligible for. Under the ACA, most U.S. citizens must have coverage to avoid paying penalties when tax season rolls around.

The quickest and easiest way to apply for Covered California is online through the Covered California website. However, a paper application is also available for download if you prefer. Residents must sign up during the open enrollment period, which ends Feb. 6 this year. After that, you can sign up through the special enrollment section of the website if you lose your health coverage, have income changes, or other special circumstances that require a new insurance plan. Medi-Cal enrollment is also open all year.

Covered California offers options for private health insurance, while programs like Medi-Cal and Medicare are in the public sector. You cannot hold coverage in both private and public programs at the same time, so Covered California is ideal for those who want some choice in their coverage plans.