If you and your household make less than $75,000 a year then you most likely qualify for a government offered healthcare subsidy. This is an amount of money that is granted to you to offset the monthly cost of healthcare. Many who are under the age of 65 are able to afford healthcare insurance because of this subsidy offered by the U.S. government. 

For example, if the policy you select is $1200, with the subsidy it is lowered to $600. Your subsidy is based on how many people you have in the home as well as the income requirement. 

Supporting documentation is required to prove your income and your identity, so make sure to have your tax returns ready to scan and send, as well as a social security number. 

The healthcare marketplace (healthcare.gov) allows you to answer a few questions about your income, household size and other factors, and then suggests plans based on this information. 

The eligibility tool also assesses your qualification for any subsidies. It also indicates whether you have any tax credits due you, and it allows you to compare several health insurance plans and features from top U.S. health insurance companies. 

But what if you do not meet eligibility criteria? Are you out of luck? Not at all. 

Consumers who do not qualify for subsidies are still able to purchase health insurance via the healthcare marketplace. However, the pricing offered will be the full price without any discounts. If you are willing to do the legwork you may find that a local insurance company may offer a better price.