If you plan to visit the Health Insurance Marketplace, type carefully.

If you’re trying to find the Health Insurance Marketplace online, watch out. 

There are several look alike sites out there just waiting for you. For instance, HealthCare.com looks a lot like the real marketplace, HealthCare.org. While you may be able to find legitimate plans there, they might not be available through the marketplace. That site generates leads to local insurance agents that will not be able to offer you financial assistance with your premiums. Only the government is allowed to do that. 

You’ll also want to be careful about purchasing any plan that starts before January 1, 2014. A marketplace plan’s coverage won’t start before then. Consumer Reports suggests that you start by calling the number of your state’s marketplace, where, with any luck, you’ll reach an actual human being.