Health insurance

Make sense of plans, networks and costs.

Health insurance helps pay for doctor visits, prescriptions, hospital stays and preventive care. The hard part is comparing plans that look alike but cost very different amounts over a year. We'll help you see the difference.

What to compare

A plan's monthly premium is only part of the cost. What you pay when you actually use care depends on the deductible, copays, coinsurance and the out-of-pocket maximum.

The plan that costs least for you depends on how much care you expect to use and which doctors and prescriptions you need.

The full-year cost

Add a year of premiums to what you'd realistically spend on care. A low premium with a high deductible can cost more for someone who uses care regularly.

Networks and prescriptions

Check that your doctors are in the plan's network and that your prescriptions are on its drug list before you choose.

When you can enroll

Individual plans have an annual open enrollment period. Outside it, you usually need a qualifying life event, such as losing other coverage, moving, marriage or a new child.

Cost

What affects the price

Where you live
Your age
Tobacco use
Whether the plan covers just you or your family
The plan's level of coverage (higher premiums usually mean lower costs when you use care)

For ACA-compliant individual and family plans, your health history doesn't change your premium. Depending on household income, you may qualify for premium tax credits that lower the monthly cost of a Marketplace plan. Eligibility is determined when you apply.

Your first conversation

Questions we'll help you answer

Which of my doctors and prescriptions do I need covered?
How much care do I expect to use this year?
Can I enroll now, or do I need a qualifying life event?
What's the most I could pay in a bad year, and can I handle it?

Go deeper

General information, not advice

This page explains how coverage generally works. It isn't a recommendation for your situation or an offer of coverage. Availability, pricing and eligibility are set by insurance companies and vary by state.

Ready to find out if you're really all set?

Start with a conversation. You'll leave understanding your options, whether or not you buy anything.

Talk with us Explore coverage

What affects the price

Where you live

Your age

Tobacco use

Whether the plan covers just you or your family

The plan's level of coverage (higher premiums usually mean lower costs when you use care)