Your First-Year ICHRA Checklist

When the notice arrives

1. Find your allowance — employee-only and family tiers, and your age band.
2. Note the ICHRA start date and the plan year.
3. Check whether it's premium-only or also reimburses medical expenses (matters for HSAs).
4. Find the administrator — the company or portal that handles reimbursements.
5. Note the opt-out deadline.

Before you shop

1. List your doctors, hospital, and every prescription.
2. Estimate your household income for the coming year.
3. Run the affordability check. Decide: ICHRA or tax credit.
4. Decide whether you want an HSA-eligible plan.

Shopping

1. Go to the Marketplace (or your employer's shopping link) inside your enrollment window.
2. Answer "yes" to the HRA question and enter your start date to unlock the Special Enrollment Period.
3. Filter by your must-haves: network, formulary, HSA-eligible if wanted.
4. Compare the worst-case year (premium × 12 + out-of-pocket max), not just the premium.
5. Enroll with an effective date on or before your ICHRA start date.
6. Set the premium to autopay.

Enrolling in the ICHRA

1. Complete the attestation that you're enrolled in individual coverage.
2. Upload your first premium proof (invoice, or bank statement).
3. Set up recurring reimbursement if the administrator offers it.
4. Confirm how you'll be paid — payroll, direct deposit, or direct-to-carrier.

Once a year after that

1. Re-read the new notice — allowance and affordability may change.
2. Re-attest.
3. Re-check doctors, prescriptions, and premium during Open Enrollment.
4. Re-run the affordability check.