Getting Health Coverage

Many people get health coverage through their employer. This is called group coverage. Employers may offer several plans to choose from, and employees get a chance to change their plan once a year during open enrollment. 

Some people purchase their own coverage because it is not available through their employer. This is called individual health insurance coverage. Individual health insurance coverage is a good option for people who are:

• In between jobs
• Self-employed
• Early retirees
• Recent college graduates
• Part-time workers

Some Americans receive health coverage through government programs. Some examples of government health programs are Medicare, Medicaid and other programs run by individual states. Learn more about Medicare in understanding Medicare.