For the estimated 50 million Americans without health insurance,Tuesday marks the day that they can start enrolling in the HealthInsurance Marketplace under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

Consumers can log on to healthcare.gov, apply online, viewa list of insurance plans and find out whether they qualify for afederal tax credit that aims to decrease the cost of the newpolicies, according to the website.

Credit unions have been gearing up for the Oct. 1 enrollmentdate by partnering with entities to bring insurance options totheir members.

Earlier this year, core data system and technology solutionsprovider EPL Inc. in Birmingham, Ala., launched the Credit Union Exchange Blueprint, a private exchange for creditunions and members that provides online access to insurancecarriers and a resource for the upcoming health care reformrequirements.

While the company sent out reminder notices and summary planslast week in anticipation of the Oct. 1 health insurancemarketplace enrollment date, EPL has been working for quite sometime to get the word out, said Cathy Hulsey, the core processor'svice president of human resources.

“We were fortunate in that we have been preparing for almost ayear now, so we weren't totally surprised like many,” Hulsey said.“We knew it was going to happen and we've kept the employeesabreast of the changes that were coming.”

EPL worked with its adviser and did some number crunching to seehow its employees would fare buying from the health insurancemarketplace compared to having its own insurance plan, Hulseysaid.

“We are in that 'sweet spot' of 50 to 150 employees so we haveto do the analysis of determining what's best for the employees andcompany,” Hulsey said. “Open enrollment is going well and we shouldknow next month once we get our carrier information and costs whichway to proceed.”

In July, the White House said it would extend the deadline for businesseswith more than 50 employers to provide health care coverage from2014 to 2015. For others, coverage through the health insurancemarketplace will start on Jan. 1, 2014.

Meanwhile, several leagues have also formed healthcarepartnerships. In June, the Iowa Credit Union and the Nebraska Credit Union Leagueannounced an alliance with CoOportunity Health, a health insuranceconsumer operated and oriented plan. Credit unions in both stateswill be the exclusive financial institution distribution channelfor the co-op, the leagues said. At last count, more than 40 creditunions have already signed on.

The Pennsylvania Credit Union Association linked up with Digital Benefit Advisors, the largest division of theAtlanta-based Digital Insurance, so that state's credit unions willhave access to a broader variety of carriers and resources, thePCUA said.