ACA enhanced subsidies expired January 1, 2026. Millions of Americans saw their monthly premiums double overnight. Check your 2026 impact →Is your Ozempic or Wegovy covered? Coverage for GLP-1 drugs varies widely by plan type. Find out before your next refill. Check your coverage →Medicare enrollees: the IRA's out-of-pocket drug cap ($2,100 in 2026) could save you thousands. Are you on the right Part D plan? Calculate your savings →Work requirements are removing Medicaid coverage for thousands in 2026. You have a 60-day window to act. See your options →ACA enhanced subsidies expired January 1, 2026. Millions of Americans saw their monthly premiums double overnight. Check your 2026 impact →Is your Ozempic or Wegovy covered? Coverage for GLP-1 drugs varies widely by plan type. Find out before your next refill. Check your coverage →Medicare enrollees: the IRA's out-of-pocket drug cap ($2,100 in 2026) could save you thousands. Are you on the right Part D plan? Calculate your savings →Work requirements are removing Medicaid coverage for thousands in 2026. You have a 60-day window to act. See your options →
Navigating the American health insurance system shouldn't require a law degree.
We simplify the process, compare top carriers, and find the plan that actually fits your life, at no extra cost to you.
The U.S. health insurance market is deliberately complex. Here are the biggest pain points we hear every day.
Overwhelming Choices
Hundreds of plans, dozens of carriers, endless acronyms like HMO, PPO, HDHP, HSA. Without expert guidance, most people pick the wrong plan for their needs.
Click to see how this plays out ↻
When Every Plan Looks the Same
Say you're comparing 14 plans on the exchange that all look nearly identical: same premium, same deductible. What the comparison chart won't tell you: two of them don't cover your child's specialist without a referral, and only one has your usual pharmacy in network.
The plan that looks cheapest on paper isn't always the one that fits how your family actually uses care.
Premium is the easiest number to compare, and often the least useful one.
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Hidden Costs & Surprises
Unexpected deductibles, out-of-network fees, co-pay traps. Many people only discover the real cost of their plan when they're already sick and facing bills.
Click to see how this plays out ↻
Covered Through a Spouse's Job?
If you're covered through a spouse's employer plan, you might assume you're stuck with it. Some employers only open enrollment once a year (often Nov to Dec for a Jan 1 start) and won't let you drop coverage outside that window. What most people don't know: many employers will still let you remove just the spouse and dependents while the employee stays enrolled.
Moving just the family to better, cheaper coverage while leaving the employee's plan untouched can save $1,000+ a year.
9 in 10 families don't know this option exists.
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Missed Enrollment Deadlines
Open Enrollment is just a few weeks per year. Miss it, and you could go uninsured for months, or pay heavy penalties for gaps in coverage.
Click to see how this plays out ↻
Think You Missed the Deadline?
It's easy to assume your ACA options follow the same calendar as a spouse's workplace plan. By the time you check, Open Enrollment may have already closed for the year, and it can feel like the door is shut.
A new baby, a move, or a job loss all reopen a 60-day enrollment window, even outside Open Enrollment.
Most "missed" deadlines aren't actually missed, they just haven't been checked.
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0M1
Americans carry health care debt
0%1
of U.S. adults have debt from medical bills
1/41
with medical debt owe more than $5,000
Even with insurance: 1 in 3 adults still carry medical debt, and nearly half owe $2,000 or more.2
1 KFF Health Care Debt Survey (2022) · 2 Commonwealth Fund Survey (2025)
What's the Common Thread?
Most of this debt comes down to one main thing: no coverage, or the wrong coverage for your situation.
Life changes: a new job, a growing family, a move, retirement. Each one is a moment to get your coverage right. Here's a few examples where we step in.
Becoming Self-Employed
Going independent means losing employer coverage. We find a plan built for freelance and 1099 income, and we check every subsidy you might now qualify for.
Losing or Leaving a Job
A job change opens a Special Enrollment window. We compare your options against COBRA, and most clients save hundreds a month for equal or better coverage.
Growing a Team
Hiring your first employees or expanding your roster? We'll structure the right fit for your business, whether that's an ICHRA so each team member picks their own plan while your business contributes tax-free, or a traditional group policy.
Protecting Your Family
Marriage, a new baby, a growing household: we build coverage that protects everyone, with networks that keep your preferred doctors and pediatricians.
Coverage Outside Open Enrollment
Moved, married, or lost coverage? A qualifying life event opens a Special Enrollment Period, so you don't have to wait until November. We act fast.
Preparing for Retirement
Turning 65 opens the door to Medicare. We guide you through Parts A, B, C & D, Medigap, and Advantage plans to lock in the right mix before deadlines hit.
Advisory First
You know your situation. Here's what it means for your coverage.
Our Life Change Review tool goes further: an advisor-guided walkthrough of your exact situation, laying out the real options side by side, free, before you ever talk to us.
Family vs. Individual Plans: What's the Difference?
ACA Plans
What is the ACA & Do You Qualify?
Medicare
Medicare A, B, C, D: The Basics in 60 Seconds
Go Further
In-depth guides, infographics & more
Beyond these quick explainers, our resource hub goes deeper: full articles on the topics that matter, with infographics, data, and complementary videos to help you decide with confidence.
My role is not to sell a plan. It starts with understanding your situation: income, coverage history, health needs, and long-term goals.
Whatever I recommend has to actually fit. That picture has to be clear before anything else happens.
When a case calls for deeper expertise in Medicare planning, complex ACA structures, or private market underwriting, I bring in recognized specialists from my network. The quality of the advice never gets diluted. You get me managing your file and domain experts who know their field.
We compare public and private plans side by side, based on your situation, then find the one that actually fits.
Public
The ACA Marketplace
Premium tax credits & subsidies based on income
Guaranteed coverage, with no medical questions
Enroll during Open Enrollment or a qualifying life event
Private
Private Market Plans
Available year-round, with no Open Enrollment wait
Often more flexible networks and pricing
Underwritten options that reward healthy applicants
Rootwell Benefits is an independent insurance agency, not the government-run Health Insurance Marketplace. Carrier and plan availability varies by state and individual eligibility.
Client Stories
What Our Clients Say
Real people, real results. Hover to pause.
★★★★★
"I was drowning in plan options during open enrollment. Ali spent 90 minutes with me, explained every option clearly, and found subsidies that cut my premium in half. I had no idea I qualified."
JL
Jennifer L.
Austin, TX
Family Coverage
★★★★★
"After losing my job, I panicked when I saw the COBRA quote. Ali enrolled me in an ACA plan within 48 hours, $580 less per month for equivalent coverage. An absolute lifesaver."
MT
Marcus T.
Chicago, IL
Individual Plan
★★★★★
"Turning 65 was overwhelming with all the Medicare choices. Ali compared every Part D plan available in my area and found me the perfect Medigap combination. Patient, thorough, and genuinely caring."
PH
Patricia H.
Phoenix, AZ
Medicare Planning
★★★★★
"I was drowning in plan options during open enrollment. Ali spent 90 minutes with me, explained every option clearly, and found subsidies that cut my premium in half. I had no idea I qualified."
JL
Jennifer L.
Austin, TX
Family Coverage
★★★★★
"After losing my job, I panicked when I saw the COBRA quote. Ali enrolled me in an ACA plan within 48 hours, $580 less per month for equivalent coverage. An absolute lifesaver."
MT
Marcus T.
Chicago, IL
Individual Plan
★★★★★
"Turning 65 was overwhelming with all the Medicare choices. Ali compared every Part D plan available in my area and found me the perfect Medigap combination. Patient, thorough, and genuinely caring."
PH
Patricia H.
Phoenix, AZ
Medicare Planning
★★★★★
"Ali found us a self-employed plan with lower premiums AND better coverage than our old employer plan. We genuinely didn't think that was possible. She's in a league of her own."
DK
David & Lisa K.
Seattle, WA
Self-Employed
★★★★★
"I came to Ali just to insure myself as a self-employed owner. Once that was sorted, she helped me bring my five-person team on board too, building a plan around each individual's needs rather than a one-size-fits-all group policy. Every one of them felt taken care of."
JC
James C.
Miami, FL
Self-Employed + Team
★★★★★
"The savings are almost embarrassing. We were paying $1,400/month for a plan that barely covered anything. Ali found us equivalent coverage for $790. I tell everyone I know about her."
YM
Yolanda M.
Dallas, TX
Family Plan
★★★★★
"Ali found us a self-employed plan with lower premiums AND better coverage than our old employer plan. We genuinely didn't think that was possible. She's in a league of her own."
DK
David & Lisa K.
Seattle, WA
Self-Employed
★★★★★
"I came to Ali just to insure myself as a self-employed owner. Once that was sorted, she helped me bring my five-person team on board too, building a plan around each individual's needs rather than a one-size-fits-all group policy. Every one of them felt taken care of."
JC
James C.
Miami, FL
Self-Employed + Team
★★★★★
"The savings are almost embarrassing. We were paying $1,400/month for a plan that barely covered anything. Ali found us equivalent coverage for $790. I tell everyone I know about her."
YM
Yolanda M.
Dallas, TX
Family Plan
★★★★★
"I moved from France and had absolutely no idea how US health insurance worked. Ali explained the entire system from scratch, no judgment. She found me a great plan and even checked in 3 months later."
SB
Sophie B.
Orlando, FL
Individual Plan
★★★★★
"Open enrollment was coming up and I was completely lost. One 30-minute call with Ali and everything was sorted. She even spotted a premium tax credit that paid for most of my monthly cost."
MR
Michael R.
Boston, MA
ACA Marketplace
★★★★★
"I'm a nurse and I still found the US insurance system confusing from the client side. Ali compared 12 plans side by side and found exactly what I needed. Her level of detail is exceptional."
AL
Amanda L.
Houston, TX
Individual Plan
★★★★★
"I moved from France and had absolutely no idea how US health insurance worked. Ali explained the entire system from scratch, no judgment. She found me a great plan and even checked in 3 months later."
SB
Sophie B.
Orlando, FL
Individual Plan
★★★★★
"Open enrollment was coming up and I was completely lost. One 30-minute call with Ali and everything was sorted. She even spotted a premium tax credit that paid for most of my monthly cost."
MR
Michael R.
Boston, MA
ACA Marketplace
★★★★★
"I'm a nurse and I still found the US insurance system confusing from the client side. Ali compared 12 plans side by side and found exactly what I needed. Her level of detail is exceptional."
AL
Amanda L.
Houston, TX
Individual Plan
Client Stories
What Our Clients Say
Real people, real results. Here's what working with an independent advisor actually feels like.
★★★★★
"Ali saved our family over $4,200 per year compared to our previous plan. She found subsidies we didn't even know we qualified for. The whole process took one call."
JL
Jennifer L.
Austin, TX
Family Coverage
★★★★★
"I was completely lost when I turned 65. Ali walked me through every Medicare option, compared costs side by side, and enrolled me in a plan that covered all my medications."
RB
Robert B.
Phoenix, AZ
Medicare Advantage
★★★★★
"As a freelancer, I had no idea what I was doing with health insurance. Ali set me up with an ACA plan that covered my prescriptions and cost half what I was paying before."
MS
Marcus S.
Denver, CO
Individual ACA Plan
★★★★★
"Ali set up coverage for our whole team, taking the time to tailor each person's plan to their own situation instead of dropping everyone into the same group policy. The process was painless and our people are thrilled. She's still our go-to for any insurance question."
TK
Tasha K.
Miami, FL
Self-Employed + Team
★★★★★
"I called Ali in a panic after losing my job. She found me a plan in 24 hours that was $600 less per month than COBRA. I can't recommend her enough."
CP
Carlos P.
Chicago, IL
Individual Plan
Why Choose Us
Why Work With an Independent Advisor?
Unlike agents tied to one company, we work for you, not for insurance carriers.
Unbiased Comparisons
We compare plans across the market with no bias toward any one carrier. Our only goal is finding you the best coverage for your needs and budget.
Free Service
Our advisory is 100% free to you. We're compensated directly by the insurance carrier you choose, at no markup to your premium.
Tight-Knit Expert Team
No handoffs, no call centers. A small, dedicated team means faster case processing, a single point of contact, and zero unnecessary intermediaries.
Year-Round Support
We're here after enrollment too. Questions about claims, network changes, or renewal options? We're one call away, always.
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
01
Do I pay more if I work with an advisor?
No. Our service is completely free to you. Carriers pay us a commission already built into the premium. Using us costs nothing extra, and often saves you money by finding subsidies you didn't know you had.
tap to see the answer
tap to close
02
Which states do you currently service?
We currently service 31 states for private market plans; 24 of those also have ACA and Medicare options through our licensed referral network. See the coverage map above.
tap to see the answer
tap to close
03
How long does the process take?
Most clients are enrolled within 24–48 hours of our first call. We handle all the paperwork and carrier communication so you don't have to lift a finger.
tap to see the answer
tap to close
04
Can I switch insurance plans mid-year?
Generally only during Open Enrollment (Nov 1–Dec 15; some state-run exchanges allow enrollment through Dec 31) or a qualifying Special Enrollment Period, like losing a job, moving, or getting married. We'll check your eligibility fast.
tap to see the answer
tap to close
05
What if I'm currently on Medicare?
Medicare is one of our specialties. We'll walk you through Original Medicare, Advantage plans, Medigap, and Part D to find the best combination for your health and budget.
tap to see the answer
tap to close
What states can we service you in?
ACA, Medicare, and private market options are available through our licensed referral network in most states. Hover a state to see what's available there.
Private market + ACA/Medicare (24 states)
Private market only (7 states)
Not currently available (20 states + DC)
Rootwell Benefits is an independent insurance agency, not the government-run Health Insurance Marketplace. Carrier and plan availability varies by state and individual eligibility.Coverage expands regularly as we add carrier appointments and licenses in new states.
Which states use a state exchange vs. the federal marketplace?
In most states, private (off-exchange) plans are available through an independent broker year-round. What differs is where ACA subsidies are accessed. Hover a state to see details.
State-based exchange (17 states + DC)
Federal marketplace · HealthCare.gov (33 states)
Private plans from 30+ carriers are accessible in both types of states through an independent advisor. Private market = available everywhere; the exchange type only determines where subsidized plans are purchased.
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Open enrollment tips that actually save money
Free Tools
Your health insurance toolkit.
Calculate your 2026 subsidy impact, estimate coverage cost, benchmark what you're paying, or navigate a life change. All free.
2026 Rule Changes
General Tools
ACA enhanced subsidies expired January 1, 2026
The enhanced premium tax credits (ARP/IRA) that capped your contribution at 8.5% of income expired at year-end 2025, and the traditional "subsidy cliff" at 400% FPL is back: anyone above it now receives zero federal assistance. Nationally, average Marketplace premium payments more than doubled for 2026 (KFF). A House-passed extension remains stalled in the Senate, so nothing is settled, but the expiration is in effect today. Enter your info below to see your estimated before/after impact.
Calculating your estimate…
This tool is general education, not insurance advice, and the figures are pre-estimates, not a binding quote. Your actual premium and subsidy depend on your county, exact plan, and household; confirm with HealthCare.gov or a licensed advisor. Data sources: KFF benchmark premium analysis, HHS Federal Poverty Guidelines, and the CMS Default Standard Age Curve.
See what you're really paying and what you could be paying instead.
Enter your current plan details to get an instant benchmark comparison against national averages.
This tool is general education, not insurance advice, and the comparison is illustrative, not a quote. Your actual best price depends on your county, exact plan, and household; confirm with HealthCare.gov or a licensed advisor. Data sources: KFF benchmark premium analysis and the CMS Default Standard Age Curve.
A life change often opens a new coverage window.
Most people don't know that qualifying life events allow you to enroll outside of open enrollment. Each event opens a limited special enrollment window. Select your situation below.
This tool is general education, not insurance advice. Enrollment windows and rules summarized here are general federal rules; some states running their own exchange may set different or longer windows. Always confirm your exact deadline with HealthCare.gov, your state exchange, or a licensed advisor. Source: HealthCare.gov Special Enrollment Period rules, CMS SEP guidance.
GLP-1 Drug Coverage Check
Coverage for Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro and other GLP-1s varies dramatically by plan type, diagnosis code, and state. Find out what to expect before you're surprised at the pharmacy.
2026 context: Medicare still does not cover GLP-1s for obesity alone under standard Part D. ACA plan coverage varies by formulary. Many employer plans added coverage in 2025–2026 under mounting employee pressure.
This tool is general education, not medical or insurance advice. Coverage rules and prices change, and your specific plan is the final word, always confirm with your plan and your doctor. Data sources: CMS Part D Public Use Files (formulary & beneficiary cost), FDA product labeling, and the Inflation Reduction Act Part D redesign.
Medicare Part D: 2026 Drug Savings Calculator
The Inflation Reduction Act capped Medicare Part D out-of-pocket drug costs: $2,000 in 2025 and $2,100 in 2026 (the cap is indexed each year), down from an effective ceiling of roughly $8,000 under the old structure. If you're on costly medications, this can save you thousands.
Important: The $2,100 cap (2026) only applies if you have a qualifying Part D plan. It resets each January 1. If you reach it before year-end, you pay $0 for covered drugs for the rest of the year.
What actually leaves your pocket at the counter, not the drug's sticker price (unless you currently pay full price).
This tool is general education, not medical or insurance advice, and the savings figure is an illustration, not a quote. Your actual costs depend on your specific plan and drugs; confirm with your plan or an advisor. Data sources: CMS CY2026 Part D Redesign Program Instructions and the Inflation Reduction Act.
Medicaid Transition Checker
New work requirements and stricter eligibility rules are removing coverage for hundreds of thousands of Americans in 2026. If you received a Medicaid termination notice (or think you might), here's what happens next and how quickly you need to act.
Time-sensitive: Losing Medicaid is a qualifying life event that opens a 60-day Special Enrollment Period for ACA Marketplace plans, often with significant subsidies. Missing this window leaves you uninsured until the next Open Enrollment (Nov 1).
Gross income (before taxes), for your whole household.
This tool is general education, not legal or insurance advice, and figures are illustrations, not a quote. Medicaid rules vary by state and change quickly; confirm with your state Medicaid office or an advisor. Data sources: HHS Federal Poverty Guidelines and HealthCare.gov Special Enrollment Period rules.
Ali Jokbengboon
Lead Advisor · Principal
I map your full situation first: income, coverage history, health needs. Then I find the right plan, or bring in the right specialist, depending on what your case calls for.
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Book a free 30-minute call, no pressure, no jargon. Or leave your details below and we will reach out to you directly.
Coverage options and subsidy eligibility vary by state.
What type of coverage are you looking for?
This helps us match you with the right plans for your situation.
Tell us about yourself.
A few details to find the best options for you.
Who needs coverage?
Add each person who needs to be covered.
Which one describes your situation?
How many people, including you?
Tell us about yourself.
Helps your Medicare specialist find the right plan for your situation.
⚠️ Medicare is typically available at 65 or older. If you're under 65, you may still qualify with a qualifying disability, and your specialist will confirm your eligibility on the call.
What's your estimated household income?
Used to estimate your subsidy eligibility.
Your current situation
Helps us prepare the right options before our call.
Employment status
Current coverage
What matters most to you?
This helps us match you to the right kind of plan.
Access & flexibility
Price vs Guarantees
What's your enrollment situation?
This helps us confirm which plans are open to you right now.
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