Hawaii Health Connector officials are touting significant milestones in the development of the state-based insurance exchange, a major piece of the Obamacare health reform law.

The organization, along with state officials and health industry executives, held a press conference Tuesday to raise awareness of the new options for health insurance, the opening of a call center and start of so-called marketplace assisters assigned to help enroll people in the online marketplace that opens Oct. 1. 

The insurance exchange — designed to give individuals and businesses access to affordable health coverage — will be the only place people can apply for subsidies and tax credits.

The first major piece of President Barack Obama’s health reform law requires all Americans to secure health insurance coverage or face tax penalties beginning Jan. 1.