Health Insurance
Health insurance protects you from catastrophic medical costs. A single ER visit can cost $2,000-$20,000+, and surgery $10,000-$200,000+. Medical debt is the #1 cause of personal bankruptcy in the US. Understanding your options is critical.
ACA Marketplace (Individual)
The Affordable Care Act marketplace offers plans in four metal tiers, each covering 10 essential health benefits. Plans cannot deny coverage for pre-existing conditions. Enhanced subsidies reduce costs for eligible individuals based on income (100-400% of Federal Poverty Level). Bronze plans have th
Employer-Sponsored Health Insurance
The most common source of health coverage in the US. Employers with 50+ full-time employees must offer affordable coverage under the ACA employer mandate or face penalties (~$2,970/employee in 2025). Employers typically pay 75-84% of premiums. Average total annual premiums: $9,325 individual / $26,9
Short-Term Health Insurance
Designed for temporary gaps between coverage. These plans do NOT comply with ACA guidelines — they can deny pre-existing conditions, exclude essential health benefits, and have lifetime/annual limits. Federal rule (Sep 2024) limits to 4 months maximum, though enforcement has been deprioritized. Aver
Catastrophic Health Insurance
ACA-compliant plans with the lowest premiums and highest deductibles. Available to people under 30 or those with a hardship/affordability exemption. Covers 3 primary care visits before deductible, preventive care at no cost, and 100% of costs after the high deductible ($9,450 individual in 2024) is
Medicare (65+)
Federal health insurance for people 65+ and those with qualifying disabilities. Part A (Hospital): Usually premium-free if you paid Medicare taxes for 10+ years. Covers inpatient hospital, skilled nursing, hospice. Part B (Medical): ~$175/month (2025). Covers doctor visits, outpatient care, preventi
Supplemental Health Insurance
Supplemental policies pay cash benefits directly to you for specific health events, helping cover out-of-pocket costs that primary insurance doesn't fully cover. Critical Illness: Lump-sum payment ($10,000-$50,000) on diagnosis of cancer, heart attack, stroke. ~$10-$20/month. Hospital Indemnity: Fix
COBRA Continuation
Federal law allowing you to continue your employer health plan for 18-36 months after a qualifying event (job loss, reduced hours, divorce, etc.). You pay the FULL premium — both employer and employee portions — plus a 2% admin fee. This can be shockingly expensive: if your employer was paying $7,88