Health Insurance

Geo depth: Class C

Health insurance helps pay for medical expenses such as doctor visits, hospital stays, and prescription drugs, in exchange for a premium and cost-sharing through deductibles, copays, and coinsurance. Coverage can be obtained through an employer, a state or federal marketplace, or purchased directly from a carrier.

Compare Health Insurance rates

What is health insurance?

Most health plans combine a monthly premium with cost-sharing at the point of care: a deductible you pay before the plan starts sharing costs, copayments or coinsurance for visits and services, and an annual out-of-pocket maximum that caps what you'll pay in a plan year. Plans also vary by network type (HMO, PPO, EPO, POS), which affects which doctors and facilities are covered at the in-network rate.

Coverage can be obtained through an employer, a state or federal ACA marketplace during open enrollment (or a special enrollment period triggered by a qualifying life event), Medicaid/CHIP if you qualify, or purchased directly from a carrier off-marketplace.

What affects your health insurance cost

Typical costs vary significantly by state, provider, and personal factors — {{VERIFY: national average health insurance premium not yet sourced}}. Rather than a single number, the factors below are what actually move your quote up or down.

Age
Plan metal tier (Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum) and its deductible/coinsurance structure
Network type and size
Household size and, for marketplace plans, income (which affects subsidy eligibility)
Tobacco use, in states that permit rating on it
Geographic rating area

How to compare health insurance providers

Price is only one part of the decision. Before choosing a provider, compare each of the following side by side:

Coverage limits, and exactly what's included or excluded
Deductible options and how a higher or lower deductible changes the premium
Financial strength ratings from an independent rating agency (e.g., AM Best, S&P, Moody's) — an indicator of an insurer's ability to pay future claims
Customer service and claims-handling reputation, including complaint-ratio data where a state Department of Insurance publishes it
Available discounts and bundling options
Confirmation that the carrier is licensed to write this coverage in your state

Related calculators

Explore health insurance by state

Coverage requirements and licensed carriers for health insurance vary by state. Here are a few popular starting points, or browse the full state directory below.

Health Insurance FAQ

When can I enroll in a health plan?

Marketplace and most employer plans use an annual open enrollment window, with exceptions for qualifying life events (job loss, marriage, birth of a child, etc.) that open a special enrollment period. {{VERIFY: current-year open enrollment dates}} — confirm exact dates on HealthCare.gov or your state's marketplace each year.

What's the difference between an HMO and a PPO?

An HMO generally requires you to use in-network providers and get referrals to see specialists, usually at a lower premium. A PPO offers more flexibility to see out-of-network providers, at a higher cost-share, without a referral, usually at a higher premium.

Am I required to have health insurance?

There is no federal tax penalty for not having health insurance under current federal law, but a small number of states have their own individual mandate with a state-level penalty. {{VERIFY: whether your specific state has an individual mandate}}.

Ready to see health insurance options?

Compare providers side by side using the factors above, then see options tailored to your state and situation.