Types of health insurance

There are many different types of health insurance. How you signed up for your insurance can tell you a lot about what type you have.

On this page:

• You get health insurance through your job
• You bought health insurance on your own
• You get health insurance from a state or federal program

You get health insurance through your job

Option 1 – You (or a family member) are a state or local government employee.

You get health insurance from the government you work for.

Your health plan is a “Non-Federal governmental plan.”

Option 2 – You (or a family member) work for a private company or organization.

Many companies offer health insurance to their employees.

You probably use a group health plan offered by your private employer. This could be either fully-insured or self-funded.

If you have questions about your insurance status, talk to your Human Resources department.

Option 3 – You (or a family member) are a current or retired federal government employee.

Most federal employees get health insurance from the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Plan.

Visit the FEHB website

You bought health insurance on your own

Option 1 – You bought health insurance on the Health Insurance Marketplace.

You went to buy your insurance on the Health Insurance Marketplace. Or you may have worked with a Healthcare Navigator or Assister.

Visit HealthCare.gov

Option 2 – You bought health insurance from a state Marketplace.

Some states operate their own Marketplaces.

If your state is listed, it has its own Marketplace website that you used to apply and enroll:

• California
• Colorado
• Connecticut
• District of Columbia
• Idaho
• Kentucky
• Maine
• Maryland
• Massachusetts
• Minnesota
• Nevada
• New Jersey
• New Mexico
• New York
• Pennsylvania
• Rhode Island
• Vermont
• Virginia
• Washington

Find your state on HealthCare.gov

Option 3 – You bought health insurance directly from a health insurance company.

You may have used an insurance agent or broker.

You get health insurance from a state or federal program

Option 1 – You (or your child) get your health insurance through Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).

Medicaid and CHIP provide health coverage to millions of Americans, including eligible:

• Low-income adults
• Children
• Pregnant women
• Elderly adults
• People with disabilities

Some states have different names for Medicaid and CHIP.

Check to see if you get your insurance from your state Medicaid agency.

Contact your state Medicaid agency

Option 2 – You get your health insurance through Medicare.

Medicare is the federal health insurance program for:

• People who are 65 or older
• Certain younger people with disabilities
• People with End-Stage Renal Disease (permanent kidney failure requiring dialysis or a transplant, sometimes called ESRD)

Medicare includes the Traditional (or Original) Fee-for-Service Program and Medicare health plans (like Medicare Advantage).

Visit Medicare.gov

Option 3 – You (or a family member) are a current or retired military service member. You get health insurance through TRICARE.

TRICARE is a military health care system. It provides care to uniformed service members, retirees, and their families.

VA Health Facilities are part of the TRICARE network.

Contact TRICARE