Menu Sign in Home Understanding health insurance Types of health insurance Types of health insurance COBRA insurance Understanding HMO, PPO, EPO, POS plans Medicare vs. Medicaid What are the different types of health insurance? When’s the last time you thought about your health insurance? If you didn’t recently fill a prescription or need to see a doctor, it’s possible that the last time you thought about your insurance plan was last fall, during open enrollment. You can hit the ground running this year before open enrollment by understanding the different types of health insurance you can consider. What is the Affordable Care Act? The Affordable Care Act (ACA), also called Obamacare or Bidencare, was put in place to help make health insurance easier for people to get. Marketplace (ACA) plans are sold on the health care Marketplace, or Exchange. They focus on preventive care, cover pre-existing conditions, and provide benefits for things like doctor visits, prescriptions and lab tests. If you're looking for Marketplace coverage, you usually need to enroll during the established enrollment period. Check into UnitedHealthcare Individual and Family Marketplace plans to find a variety of affordable, quality coverage options. Learn more about UnitedHealthcare Individual and Family Marketplace plans What is Medicare? Medicare is a federally funded and operated health insurance program originally designed for people who are 65 or older. Throughout the years, Medicare has expanded to include disabled people under 65 and those with special circumstances. The program is divided into four parts: A, B, C and D, and is the same nationwide. Discover how Medicare can work for you What is Medicaid? Medicaid is a federal and state program in place for low income families, seniors and individuals with mental or physical disabilities. People qualify for Medicaid by meeting federal income standards. The program is operated on a state-by-state basis, and may be called different names depending on where you live. In Minnesota, for example, Medicaid is called Minnesota Medical Assistance. How do I apply for Medicaid services? What's the difference between Medicaid and Medicare? Can I have both? Medicare and Medicaid are terms you often hear together. That’s because both are government programs. However, they work differently. There's another types of plan called a Dual Special Needs Plan (D-SNP). D-SNP plans include both Medicare and Medicaid benefits. People may qualify for Medicare, Medicaid or both, depending on their situation. Learn more about the difference between Medicare and Medicaid Learn about D-SNP plans What are health insurance plans through work? Around 49% of Americans get health insurance coverage through their employers. That’s nearly 157 million people.1 Employer-sponsored health plans play a big role in benefits packages. Depending on your employer, there may be several health plans for you to choose from. If you get your health plan through work, check into UnitedHealthcare plans to learn what benefits are included with our plans. From personalized support to helpful digital tools and large provider networks — there's a lot to consider when making your choice. Learn more about health plans through work What are HMO, PPO, EPO and POS health insurance plans? Which insurance is most affordable? Which health insurance plan is right for you? For a lot of people who get their health insurance through their employer, it comes down to what options are available. If there is more than one choice, you likely have to decide between an HMO, PPO, EPO or POS option. People shopping for Medicare plans may also be choosing between these same types of options. Not everyone has the same options, but it may help to understand more about how each of these plans work. Learn more about how HMO, PPO, EPO or POS provider networks work What is COBRA? COBRA stands for the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (COBRA), a program that may help if you need coverage between jobs. If you lose your job, become furloughed or experience reduced hours and it changes your health insurance coverage, you may look into COBRA for health care coverage. With COBRA, you can continue the same coverage you had when you were employed. That includes medical, dental and vision plans. Learn more about how COBRA works What is short term health insurance? Short term health insurance, also called temporary health insurance or term health insurance, may be right for you if you need to fill a gap in coverage until you can choose a longer-term solution. It might be a good option if you’re in between jobs, waiting for coverage to start, looking for coverage to bridge you to Medicare, turning 26 and coming off your parents’ insurance or many other situations. Short term health insurance offers flexible, fast coverage for those dynamic times of change in your life. Learn more about short term health insurance Need help finding a plan? Answer a few questions to see which insurance options may be available for you. Help me find a plan Related content How does health insurance work? Understanding health insurance costs What is open enrollment? Understanding health insurance Footnote How many Americans get health insurance from their employer, January 2021 Disclaimers Individual and Family Marketplace plans: Medical plan coverage offered by: UnitedHealthcare of Arizona, Inc.; Rocky Mountain Health Maintenance Organization, Incorporated in CO; UnitedHealthcare of Florida, Inc.; UnitedHealthcare of Georgia, Inc.; UnitedHealthcare of Illinois, Inc.; UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company in LA, TN and AL; Optimum Choice, Inc. in VA and MD; UnitedHealthcare Community Plan, Inc. in MI; UnitedHealthcare of North Carolina, Inc.; UnitedHealthcare of Oklahoma, Inc.; UnitedHealthcare of Texas, Inc.; and UnitedHealthcare of Oregon, Inc. in WA. Administrative Services provided by United HealthCare Services, Inc. or their affiliates. Some plans may require copayments, deductibles and/or coinsurance for these benefits. Plans in metal tiers varies and are subject to plan deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance. This policy has exclusions, limitations, reduction of benefits, and terms under which the policy may be continued in force or discontinued. For costs and complete details of the coverage, review your plan documents, call or write your insurance agent or the company, whichever is applicable. By responding to this offer, you agree that a representative may contact you. To qualify for a $0 monthly premium, you must meet household income requirements for Advanced Premium Tax Credits. Share Contact us Careers Newsroom About us Accessibility Legal Privacy Terms of use Language assistance Nondiscrimination Health care fraud Follow us © 2021 United HealthCare Services, Inc.