Americans get health insurance in many different ways, with most of us choosing from one of the following options:
- Federal and state health insurance marketplaces
The federal government operates the Health insurance Marketplace (available at HealthCare.gov) for most states. Some states run their own Marketplaces. “The Marketplace or “exchange” provides health plan shopping and enrollment services through websites, call centers, and in-person help.
New Yorkers can access affordable federal and state health insurance options through its own Marketplace, as well as Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement, Medicaid, and HARP and CHPlus.
- Private health insurance marketplace
Private health insurance exchanges are usually designed to serve several large employers, so most people will only encounter them when signing up for job-based health insurance.
Employer-sponsored health insurance is a health policy selected and purchased by your employer and offered to eligible employees and their dependents in what are usually called “group plans."