Either you love it, hate it or just don’t understand it, and almost daily citizens hear that the Affordable Care Act, is wonderful, terrible or just plain confusing.

But no matter where your opinion falls, here are some basic facts provided by Nicole Knieps, Forks Community Hospital:

• Open enrollment ends March 31; health plans purchased by March 23 at 5 p.m. will be effective April 1 and plans purchased by March 31 11:59 p.m. will be effective May 1.
• The next open enrollment period will be Nov. 15, 2014-Feb. 15, 2015. To enroll you go to www.wahealthplanfinder.org.
• For assistance, contact Renee Reed at Forks Community Hospital or ask for an in-person assister at 374-6271.
• Washington Apple Health (Medicaid) does not have an open enrollment period.
• Individuals and families will be able to apply and complete their renewals via the above site throughout the year.
• In Washington, enrollments in private health plans saw an increase from 89,243 in January to 105,404 in February.
• Eighty-two percent of Qualified Health Plan Enrollees (people with private health plans) qualify for financial help in the form of a tax credit and more than 57 percent were eligible for cost-sharing to reduce the out-of-pocket costs (co-pays and deductibles).
• If someone chooses not to enroll, they will pay an initial penalty of $95.
• If you own a small business with up to 50 employees, you can provide health insurance through Healthplanfinder and you may be eligible for tax credits.
• If your employer signed up the business for coverage through Healthplanfinder, you will receive sign-in info from your employer.