Open enrollment for health insurance takes place through Jan. 15. If you’re under age 65 and don’t have affordable health insurance through your employer, now is the time to look at your options.

While it might seem straightforward to pick a plan — and even easier to stick with what you have — getting some professional help could save you money or avoid problems getting medical needs met. Many folks on Medicaid will be disqualified and need to get health insurance, as will people who had insurance through Friday Health Plans, which went out of business this year.

Look for health insurance that is compliant with the Affordable Care Act (ACA). It changed the landscape for health insurance, and some people don’t like the changes. But it has made health insurance possible for more people.

“Every family’s needs are different and it usually comes down to finding the right plan design, the network that includes your doctors and hospitals, and an affordable premium, said Summer Westerbur, with Colorado Springs based Kairos Insurance Group.

She also points out that there are systems that look like health insurance but aren’t and are not ACA compliant; these are called “private health plans” and religious medshares.

Sandee Wilson, with Aspen Insurance Group in Colorado Springs, contacted one such provider and was told that it is governed by a board that makes the decisions on the claims. This is different from an insurance company that is regulated and outlines specifically what is covered.

The ability to find your plan on the ACA Exchange might seem simple; it has good ACA-compliant plans. You can still have an insurance broker help you with finalizing your policy, though, and it won’t change the cost to you.

Westerbur points out the benefit of having a professional help you.

“We simplify the process,” she said. “I’ve spent 20 years evaluating plans so I can choose a plan in two minutes that could take a client hours to read through. Insurance is

extremely confusing and having a broker will make open enrollment less stressful.”

This professional insight might include finding ACAcompliant insurance outside the exchange if there are lower premiums available.

An advantage of processing the insurance purchase through the exchange is you might be eligible for a tax credit based on your income. If your income is too high to qualify for a tax credit, buying insurance on the exchange doesn’t give you that financial benefit.

“There are some great options this year, including two $0 deductible plans I really like,” Westerbur said.

Apathy might be one of your worst enemies when it comes to the annual open enrollment for health insurance. Even if you’re in a good plan, there might be a better one for you and your family.

Next week we’ll look at signing up for Medicare.