Health Insurance: What It Is and Where It Comes From

Health insurance protects you from high medical costs. It is a contract between you and an insurance company: you buy a plan or policy, and the company agrees to pay part of your expenses when you need care.

Ways to get it

• Through an employer. Many people in the United States get health insurance through their jobs, and in most cases the employer helps pay for it. Employer coverage is often a managed care plan, which contracts with doctors, other providers and medical facilities to care for members at reduced cost.
• On your own. You can also buy health insurance yourself.
• From the government. People who meet certain requirements can qualify for government health insurance, such as Medicare and Medicaid.

The Affordable Care Act expands health insurance coverage for many people in the United States.

Sources

• MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine, "Health Insurance." https://medlineplus.gov/healthinsurance.html
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