Healthcare
4guides
The biggest shock for most newcomers: the US has no national health service. Here's how cover actually works.
How health insurance works in the USThere is no NHS-style national system. Almost everyone is covered through an employer, buys a plan on the government Marketplace, or qualifies for a public programme like Medicaid or Medicare.
Getting covered: the Marketplace, Medicaid and enrolment windowsYou usually can't buy Marketplace cover whenever you like — there's an annual Open Enrolment window, plus Special Enrolment if your life changes (new job, moving, a baby).
Premiums, deductibles, copays — what you'll actually payHaving insurance does not mean care is free. The vocabulary here is what catches people out — and it's the difference between a $30 visit and a $3,000 bill.
Choosing a plan: HMO vs PPO, metal tiers and HDHPsPlans differ in two big ways: how free you are to choose doctors (HMO vs PPO), and how the costs are split (bronze to platinum). Cheapest monthly premium is rarely cheapest overall.