What health insurance plan should I get?
Our health insurance plan finder tool can help you to find affordable health insurance that meets your needs. The best health insurance for you depends on a lot of personal factors, and the tool on this page takes you through a series of questions to narrow down your choices. You can then get health insurance rates to compare and select what works for you.
If you're not sure how to choose health insurance, what options are available to you, or what steps to take when choosing health insurance coverage, we can help you get on the right path.
How to find health insurance
Finding the best health insurance for your needs starts with answers to a few basic questions. First, what type of health insurance plans are available to you?
Are you employed? Does your job offer health insurance? Are you under 26 and can stay on a parent’s plan? Do you qualify for Medicaid in your state? Can you get subsidies to help pay for an Affordable Care Act (ACA) plan?
The health insurance finder tool, will provide suggestions for health coverage based on your situation. It also provides information about health insurance plans, such as preferred provider organization (PPO), health maintenance organization (HMO) and high-deductible health plans (HDHPs) to help you make the best decision.
The tool will also provide information about the ACA's metal tiered plans to help you decide which one is best for you.
When choosing a health insurance plan, you need to think about your finances, health care needs and what you want from a health plan. Do you prefer health insurance with a higher premium but lower out-of-pocket costs when you need health care? Or would lower premiums and higher out-of-pocket costs a better decision for you? Most plans allow you to balance these two expenses
What to look for in a health insurance plan
When comparing plans, be sure to consider:
- Premiums
- Deductibles
- Coinsurance
- Out-of-pocket maximums
- Copays
- Provider networks
- Prescription drug coverage and costs
You should also look at customer reviews of each insurance company to get an idea of each company's reputation for customer service and coverage.
What are the ways to get health insurance?
A few ways to get health insurance include:
- An employer-sponsored health plan
- An individual health plan or ACA plan
- Medicare
- Medicaid
- COBRA
An employer-sponsored plan is how most working-age people get health insurance. A plan from your job is often more affordable than getting an individual plan. An employer helps pay your premiums -- usually well more than half of the costs, which means you’ll find cheaper plans through a job than buying a plan on your own.
An exception is if you get an individual plan through the ACA marketplace. People whose household income is below 400% of the federal poverty level are eligible for cost-saving subsidies to reduce premiums and out-of-pocket costs.
If you’re not eligible for those subsidies, individual health plans can cost much more than an employer-sponsored plan.
Medicare and Medicaid are limited to people who qualify. Most people with Medicare become eligible when they turn 65. Medicaid is based on income. Each state has its own Medicaid eligibility, though it’s usually people below 138% of the federal poverty level.
Meanwhile, COBRA is available to most people who lose or leave their job. COBRA coverage is temporary and is expensive. However, COBRA offers you the chance to extend your former employer’s health plan for 18 months.