Health insurance and coverage is the system of public and private plans that help people pay for medical care. It includes government programs, employer plans, plans bought through the marketplaces, and accounts that set aside money for medical costs. Federal and state governments, insurers, employers, and individuals each have a role in who is covered and what is paid.
An independent team explaining how government works
Since January 2022, the No Surprises Act has protected people who use most types of private health insurance from unexpected out-of-network bills for emergency room visits,…
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) offers health coverage and school payments, among other benefits, to the families of veterans who are permanently and totally disabled…
CHIP covers checkups, dental, vision, and mental health care for kids, with total family costs capped at 5 percent of yearly income under federal law.
More than a million Californians could lose Medi-Cal coverage over the next decade because of federal budget changes signed into law in July 2025. What makes…
Medicare covers health insurance for older adults and people with certain disabilities, and Medicaid and CHIP covers coverage for people with limited income and for children.
Private Insurance (COBRA) covers employer and individual plans, including continuing coverage after a job ends, and Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) covers tax-favored accounts for medical expenses.
Insurance Coverage Requirements covers what plans must include, and Insurance Appeals and Disputes covers how people challenge a denied claim or decision.
1.2 million Californians could lose their Medi-Cal coverage by 2027. New federal rules require states to verify Medicaid eligibility every six months instead of…
Medi-Cal coverage loss in California depends on eligibility, renewal paperwork and plan changes. Notices guide appeals and replacement coverage options.
More than half of America's seniors now depend on private Medicare plans, and the system is becoming financially unsustainable as insurers are starting to…
What the One Big Beautiful Bill Act changed for household taxes and health coverage, which pieces are permanent, which expire, and what the subsidy lapse did.
The Medicare Annual Enrollment Period is the single most important time of year for millions of Americans who rely on Medicare for health coverage.…
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, passed in 2010, represents one of the most significant reforms of the U.S. health system. Its primary…
The government shutdown grew from a clash over temporary funding and health insurance. The reopening deal and later subsidy vote answered separate questions.
Federal retirees face a common problem when applying for financial assistance: organizations ask for "proof of payment" for health insurance premiums, but the standard…
A reader writes to us: Why does the government force the elderly who are already on a fixed budget to pay for a Medicare…
The United States is undergoing a demographic shift that threatens the future of Social Security and Medicare. Longer lifespans, fewer births, and 73 million…
