The ACA Health Insurance Marketplace opened November 1 for 2026 coverage. Before you compare plans, you need to know what care your family actually uses — and that means having every person's health records in one place.
Every person gets one health story, and one private Family Stork email address every clinic already knows how to use. Tired of managing health records for yourself and everyone you love? Family Stork organizes them for you automatically.
The cheapest premium is not always the cheapest plan. A Bronze plan with a $7,000 deductible costs more than a Silver plan with a $2,000 deductible if your child needs allergy shots every month or your parent takes three brand-name prescriptions. The only way to know is to look at the actual care each person uses — and that information lives in their health records.
For every person you're enrolling, gather:
Source: HealthCare.gov — How to choose a Marketplace plan, accessed November 7, 2026
When you leave a plan, you may lose access to that insurer's patient portal. If your child's pediatrician or your parent's cardiologist filed visit summaries through the old plan's portal, those records are not automatically transferred to the new one.
With Family Stork, every record sent to the private Family Stork address stays in the family's timeline permanently — regardless of which insurer you switch to. The address doesn't change when the plan does.
State-run marketplaces (California, New York, Colorado, and 14 others) may have different deadlines. Check your state's marketplace site.
Source: HealthCare.gov — Key dates and deadlines, accessed November 7, 2026
If you're helping a parent compare Medicare Advantage plans or Part D drug plans during Medicare Open Enrollment (October 15 – December 7), the same principle applies: you need their complete medication list and specialist history. Family Stork keeps each person's record separate — your child's timeline and your parent's timeline are distinct, but both are in one place for you.
Related: Medicare Part D — the prescription records that help you pick the right drug plan
You don't submit health records to the Marketplace. Records are for your reference when comparing plans — knowing what care each family member uses helps you pick the right tier and check that your providers are in-network.
Start your family's record now. Give your child's pediatrician and your own doctor the private Family Stork address shown on each person's record. When visit summaries arrive, you'll have everything you need to compare plans — and it stays with you for every future enrollment.
Family Stork is a records-organization service, not a medical expense. It is not typically eligible for FSA/HSA reimbursement. Ask your plan administrator for specifics. Family Stork costs $99/year, or about $10/month.
Your Family Stork timeline is independent of any insurer. Records stay in your family's account permanently. The private address doesn't change when your insurance does.
Every person gets one health story, and one private Family Stork email address every clinic already knows how to use. Your pediatrician sends the well-child summary, the specialist sends the referral notes, and you compare plans with every record on one timeline — no portal logins, no downloads, no guessing.
$99/year, or about $10/month. From your first heartbeat and beyond.
Start your family's record — free