Health insurance

Who it’s for

Marketplace plans often fit people who don’t get health coverage through work. That includes people who work for themselves, people between jobs, early retirees, and families who need their own plan. They also fit people with a health problem who need full coverage.

What it can cover

• Doctor visits, hospital stays, and emergency care
• Prescription drugs
• Checkups and other care to keep you well, often at no cost to you
• Pregnancy, birth, and care for your newborn
• Mental health care
• Lab tests

Example

Say you leave your job to start a business, and your work plan ends. Losing that coverage usually lets you sign up outside the yearly window. You pick a plan with a $2,000 deductible, the part you pay first for care. If you need a $3,000 procedure, you’d pay the first $2,000, and the plan would typically pay its share of the rest.

Good to know

Each plan has a network, the doctors and hospitals it works with. Check that yours are in it before you pick. Savings based on income may get settled at tax time, so update your income if it changes.

Prefer to look on your own first? You can browse marketplace health plans through our partner’s enrollment site: browse marketplace plans (opens in a new tab). We’re still here if you want help comparing them.

Who it’s for

Short-term health may fit healthy people with a brief gap in coverage. Think between jobs, or waiting for a new job’s plan to start. It isn’t a good fit if you have ongoing health needs or take medicine on a regular basis.

What it can cover

• Some doctor visits and hospital care, up to the plan’s limits
• Emergency care for new injuries and illnesses
• A set end date, since it’s meant to be short
• A deductible, the part you pay first, and a limit, the most the plan would pay
• Often leaves out health problems you had before you signed up
• Often leaves out care like pregnancy, mental health, or prescriptions

Example

Say you leave one job, and your new job’s plan starts in two months. You’re healthy and don’t take any medicine. Then you break your arm. Say the bill is $4,000 and your deductible is $1,000. You’d pay the first $1,000, and the plan would usually pay the rest, up to its limits.

Good to know

Rules for short-term plans vary by state. They’re generally not ACA-compliant, which means they don’t follow the marketplace rules. If you just lost other coverage, you may be able to get a marketplace plan instead, so check that first.

Who it’s for

These plans fit anyone who wants help paying for regular teeth and eye care. They’re common for families with kids, people who wear glasses or contacts, and anyone who knows dental work is coming. You can often add them next to a health plan or buy them on their own.

What it can cover

• Dental cleanings, checkups, and X-rays, often at little or no cost to you
• Fillings and simple repairs, with you paying a share
• Bigger work, like crowns or root canals, often after a waiting period
• Eye exams, often once a year
• Money toward glasses or contacts
• A yearly maximum, the most the plan would pay in a year

Example

Say your dental plan has a $1,500 yearly maximum and a six-month wait for bigger work. You sign up in January and need a crown in March. The wait means the crown likely isn’t covered yet. Once the wait is over, the plan would typically pay its share, up to what’s left of the $1,500.

Good to know

Waiting periods and yearly maximums are common, so check both before you buy. If you know you need big dental work soon, ask us about plans with shorter waits.