Getting Health Insurance
Many people currently get health insurance through their employer. This is called group coverage. Employers may offer several plans to choose from, and if applicable, employees may get a chance to change their plan once a year during open enrollment.
Some people purchase their own insurance because they don’t qualify for group coverage. This is called individual health insurance. Individual health insurance is a good option for people who are:
- In between jobs
- Self-employed
- Early retirees
- Recent college graduates
- Part-time workers
- Within the waiting period for group coverage
Many Americans receive health insurance through government programs. Some examples of government health insurance programs are Medicare, Medicaid and other programs run by individual states. Learn more about Medicare in understanding Medicare.
Starting in 2014, you will be able to get insurance on the health insurance exchange, an online shopping site where you'll be able to go online to look at insurance plans available in your area. Every health insurance plan in the new exchange will offer comprehensive coverage, from doctors to medications to hospital visits. You can compare all your insurance options based on price, benefits, quality and other features that may be important to you, in plain language that makes sense. Learn more about the exchange.
