What to have ready before you talk to an advisor

Before a call about farm health coverage, have six things ready: your household, your ZIP code, your current plan, your doctors and hospitals, your prescriptions, and a rough income figure. For the household, list everyone who would be on the plan with dates of birth, and note anyone who already has other coverage, such as a spouse's employer plan. The ZIP code matters because plans and networks are set by where you live. For the current plan, bring the card or this year's renewal letter, both letters if you got two. Write down the names of the doctors and hospitals your household wants to keep, and the name and dose of each regular medicine. For income, give your best estimate of next year's net farm income plus any other household income; a range is fine for a first call. You do not need to know which plan you want, and you do not need to send documents in advance.

• Your household. Everyone who would be on the plan, with dates of birth. Note anyone who already has other coverage, such as a spouse's employer plan.
• Your ZIP code. Plans and networks are set by where you live, so this comes first.
• Your current plan. The card, or this year's renewal letter if you have it. Both letters if you got two.
• Doctors and hospitals. The names of the ones your household wants to keep.
• Prescriptions. The name and dose of each regular medicine.
• A rough income figure. Your best estimate of next year's net farm income plus any other household income. A range is fine for a first call.

For a Marketplace application, healthcare.gov asks for the income you expect in the year you want coverage, not last year's. Self-employed people report net income, which is income after business expenses. If farm income swings, last year's tax return and what you expect from this season are a reasonable starting point. Our income guide covers the method, and your tax professional is the right person for the figure itself.

• Estimating farm income
• healthcare.gov: estimating your income
• healthcare.gov: income for the self-employed

You do not need to know which plan you want, what kind of plan it should be, or what you might qualify for. Working that out is what the conversation is for. You also do not need to send documents in advance. Have them nearby.

If a subsidized Marketplace plan still fits your household, healthcare.gov is usually the simpler route, and you can apply there directly with the same list. This guide is written for farm households paying most or all of the premium themselves.

Related guides

• Open Enrollment for farm households
• Reading your renewal notice
• Farm couples and an employer plan