Individual plans
Build your comparison around your regular care, prescriptions, budget and preferred doctors.
Explore individual plans →Individual · Family · Business & Group
Health insurance.
Your life in mind.
Choose health coverage around the care you use, the people you cover and your budget. Compare the provider network, prescriptions and total costs together. Plan choices and enrollment options depend on your location and eligibility.
For yourself. For your family. For your team.
Choose a starting point
Who are you covering?
Find your path here.
Family plans
Look at everyone who needs coverage, family deductibles and the providers each person uses.
Explore family coverage →Business & Group Plans
For corporations, LLCs, practices and other employers exploring health benefits for eligible employees.
Explore group coverage →Individual & family plans
From plan shopping
to a clear decision.
- Start with your household.Have your location, household details and desired start date ready.
- Compare the available plans.Review prices, benefits, networks and prescription coverage together.
- Complete enrollment.Follow the applicable application, payment and confirmation steps.
Business & Group Plans
Health coverage.
For the people behind your business.
Corporations, LLCs, medical practices and other employers can start here when considering employee health benefits. Review the workforce, work locations, budget and desired effective date before choosing a group plan.
Small-group and larger-employer arrangements follow different rules. SHOP is one option for eligible small employers; group eligibility, participation and plan availability depend on the state and arrangement. Forming a business entity alone does not establish eligibility.
Before you choose
The price is a starting point.
The details make the difference.
Compare the full cost
Look at the monthly premium, deductible, copayments, coinsurance and out-of-pocket limit. Compare a typical year and a year with more care. Premiums, non-covered services and out-of-network costs are outside the Marketplace in-network out-of-pocket limit.
Keep your care in view
Check your doctors, hospitals, pharmacies and prescriptions against the exact plan. Network rules, referrals and out-of-network benefits vary. If your family receives care in different areas, confirm how each location is covered.
Sources:[3]
Check your enrollment window
Marketplace enrollment generally happens during Open Enrollment or a qualifying Special Enrollment Period. Losing qualifying coverage, certain moves or household changes may create an opportunity to enroll. Rules, deadlines and required evidence vary by event; confirm the current requirements for your state.
Sources:[4]
Finish with a confirmed start date
Review the application, enrollment confirmation and any follow-up requirements. For Marketplace coverage, pay the first premium to the insurer if one is due. Submitting an application alone does not establish active coverage. Confirm the effective date before ending an existing plan.
Sources:[5]
A little preparation
Keep these details
within reach.
Gather them for the enrollment service. This page does not collect an application.
- Where you live and who needs coverage
- Your current coverage and when it ends
- Doctors, hospitals and medications to check
- Household income information, if applying for savings
- Your questions about benefits and start dates
Common questions
Can a corporation, LLC or other business request group coverage?
Yes, use the Business & Group Plans path to begin a discussion about employer coverage. Eligibility depends on the actual workforce, state and carrier rules, not just the entity type. Group quoting and online enrollment availability still need to be confirmed for this service.
Is a family plan the same as an employer group plan?
No. Use the family path when shopping for household coverage outside an employer plan. A business owned by a family does not automatically qualify as an employer group. For SHOP, an eligible employee other than an owner, partner, spouse or family member of an owner is required; other arrangements require their own eligibility review.
Can I compare coverage for myself and my family?
This section is for individual and family health coverage. Compare the household members who need coverage, the plan network and family cost-sharing rules. Available plans and prices depend on your location and circumstances.
Does a nationwide shopping service mean one nationwide network?
No. The states where a service operates and the providers covered by an insurance plan are different things. Check the exact plan’s service area and out-of-network terms, especially if you travel or have family members in different states.
Can I apply at any time of year?
For Marketplace coverage, check Open Enrollment or whether you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period. A website being available around the clock does not remove enrollment deadlines or eligibility requirements.
Does choosing a plan mean my coverage has started?
No. Complete the applicable enrollment and payment requirements, and obtain the confirmed effective date. Keep your enrollment documents and follow up on any outstanding requests.
Is health insurance the same as disability or life insurance?
No. Health insurance helps pay for covered medical care. Disability insurance addresses qualifying lost income, while life insurance can provide a death benefit. Each serves a different part of your household plan.
By Navid Lalezari · Author
Reviewed by Navid Lalezari
Last reviewed
Plan terms, prices, enrollment eligibility and service availability depend on your state and circumstances and require confirmation before you rely on them.
Where to go from here
These next steps are educational and have no cost or obligation. They do not start an insurance application or begin coverage.
- Check My Options
Tell Drs Choices what you are weighing and request a conversation about your situation.
- Compare Policies
See how the coverage types and policy terms on this page differ side by side before you decide.
- Start Your Plan
Build a discussion brief from your own numbers. No account or email is required.
Sources
Drs Choices summarizes and compares these sources on this page. Each entry links to the original if you want to verify the wording yourself.
HealthCare.gov: Comparing total health plan costs
View original source for “HealthCare.gov: Comparing total health plan costs” (opens in a new tab)HealthCare.gov: What the out-of-pocket maximum excludes
View original source for “HealthCare.gov: What the out-of-pocket maximum excludes” (opens in a new tab)HealthCare.gov: HMO, PPO, EPO and POS networks
View original source for “HealthCare.gov: HMO, PPO, EPO and POS networks” (opens in a new tab)HealthCare.gov: Special enrollment opportunities
View original source for “HealthCare.gov: Special enrollment opportunities” (opens in a new tab)HealthCare.gov: Applying, choosing a plan and starting coverage
View original source for “HealthCare.gov: Applying, choosing a plan and starting coverage” (opens in a new tab)HealthCare.gov: Small business coverage options
View original source for “HealthCare.gov: Small business coverage options” (opens in a new tab)HealthCare.gov: SHOP employer eligibility
View original source for “HealthCare.gov: SHOP employer eligibility” (opens in a new tab)