# Where can I find good health insurance? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 5, 2019, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-find-good-health-insurance/830593 "2019-03-05T21:02:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Machinaforce](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/aeb1de/32.png) [@Machinaforce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machinaforce)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2019, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-find-good-health-insurance/830593/1 "2019-03-05T21:02:29Z")
Since I turned 26 I am no longer covered by my family anymore and at the moment I don’t really know what to do about it. I have never really shopped around for this sort of thing before so I want to know how other people solved it. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2019, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-find-good-health-insurance/830593/2 "2019-03-05T21:05:28Z")
Since the OP is looking for advice, let’s move this to IMHO. Colibri General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2019, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-find-good-health-insurance/830593/3 "2019-03-05T21:14:24Z")
You’re a student, right? Here’s some guidance: > **[Health Care Coverage Options for College Students](https://www.healthcare.gov/young-adults/college-students/)** > > null > Learn about the health insurance choices for college students in the Health Insurance Marketplace® But doesn’t your school already have a plan or advise you on this? ---
**Author:** ![Machinaforce](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/aeb1de/32.png) [@Machinaforce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machinaforce)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2019, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-find-good-health-insurance/830593/4 "2019-03-05T21:20:30Z")
I go to FAU and they don’t have a health plan nor do they advise students on the matter. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2019, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-find-good-health-insurance/830593/5 "2019-03-05T21:20:52Z")
I’m afraid the only truthful answer is “outside the US”. Unless you are a millionaire and price is no object. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2019, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-find-good-health-insurance/830593/6 "2019-03-05T21:28:52Z")
> [@Machinaforce](#): > > Since I turned 26 I am no longer covered by my family anymore and at the moment I don’t really know what to do about it. I have never really shopped around for this sort of thing before so I want to know how other people solved it. How much a month can you afford to pay for health insurance? ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2019, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-find-good-health-insurance/830593/7 "2019-03-05T21:47:17Z")
> [@Machinaforce](#): > > I go to FAU and they don’t have a health plan nor do they advise students on the matter. Is FAU Florida Atlantic University? Because it looks like they do have a [Student Health Insurance Plan](http://www.fau.edu/shs/fees_insurance/student_insurance.php). ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2019, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-find-good-health-insurance/830593/8 "2019-03-05T22:28:37Z")
In America? It can be very hard. Even many jobs don’t offer ‘good’ health insurance anymore. They offer high deductible care with narrow networks. How much money do you earn per year? You could quality for medicaid or a subsidized ACA plan doing that. ---
**Author:** ![yearofglad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/b782af/32.png) [@yearofglad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yearofglad)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2019, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-find-good-health-insurance/830593/9 "2019-03-05T23:12:33Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > I’m afraid the only truthful answer is “outside the US”. Unless you are a millionaire and price is no object. Bah. That’s nonsense. I have good health insurance that I purchased through the federal Marketplace ([http://www.healthcare.gov](http://www.healthcare.gov)) because I am self-employed and so do not have an employer through which to get insurance. I am not a millionaire and price was a definite consideration. Your answer is far from truthful, and certainly far from “the only truthful answer.” I recommend the OP look at [healthcare.gov](http://healthcare.gov), the Student Health Insurance Plan **SpoilerVirgin** linked to, and Medicaid or a subsidized ACA plan (which is what I have). There are options out there, and moving out of the United States is not the only one. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2019, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-find-good-health-insurance/830593/10 "2019-03-05T23:32:26Z")
Why is everyone ignoring [healthcare.gov](http://healthcare.gov)? (Except yearofgod) It’s not free but if you’re poor it’s highly subsidized, and the plans offered are just as good as any other. You just have to pay for them fully instead of having your employer pay. I have a friend who is 29 and underemployed. He gets “Obamacare” for free and an emergency surgery with several days in the hospital was like $2000. And they’re managing both his diabetes and mental health needs for free. ---
**Author:** ![Machinaforce](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/aeb1de/32.png) [@Machinaforce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machinaforce)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2019, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-find-good-health-insurance/830593/11 "2019-03-05T23:37:23Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > Why is everyone ignoring [healthcare.gov](http://healthcare.gov)? (Except yearofgod) It’s not free but if you’re poor it’s highly subsidized, and the plans offered are just as good as any other. You just have to pay for them fully instead of having your employer pay. > > I have a friend who is 29 and underemployed. He gets “Obamacare” for free and an emergency surgery with several days in the hospital was like $2000. And they’re managing both his diabetes and mental health needs for free. I’m not poor enough for it. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2019, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-find-good-health-insurance/830593/12 "2019-03-05T23:55:32Z")
You can still get on the ACA, your percentage will just be higher. If you are a full time student you will qualify. Unless you have bank full of gold bars, that is. The ACA is not for just the poor. It’s for able bodied people who have no other access to health insurance. Or their employee insurance is too high. At least that’s my understanding. YMMV. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2019, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-find-good-health-insurance/830593/13 "2019-03-06T00:04:32Z")
Talk to whoever handles your car insurance. Even if they can’t set you up with a plan that meets your needs, they can give you information about where you can get one. That’s where I found mine, and even though it’s high-deductible, it has paid claims with hardly a speck of hassle over the past year and a half for my cancer treatment. (Hope you don’t NEED it, KWIM?) ---
**Author:** ![yearofglad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/b782af/32.png) [@yearofglad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yearofglad)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2019, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-find-good-health-insurance/830593/14 "2019-03-06T00:05:54Z")
You don’t have to be “poor” to take advantage of the ACA; go to [Healthcare.gov](http://Healthcare.gov) and fill out an application - they’ll indicate the amount of your subsidy before picking a plan, and you’re not obligated to pick a plan prior to the determination of your subsidy. In other words, it’s no risk to just do it. Also, are you at Florida Atlantic? Have you checked **VirginSpoiler** ’s link? You seem to be shooting down or ignoring viable ideas or queries. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2019, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-find-good-health-insurance/830593/15 "2019-03-06T01:51:11Z")
Yeah you don’t have to be poor. If you’re poor you get subsidized (and I think “poor” means like 400% of the poverty level) but if you’re not you still have access to all the same plans, you just pay full price. I make about $60k/year and I buy a plan straight up through [healthcare.gov](http://healthcare.gov) because my job doesn’t offer healthcare. It’s available to everyone. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2019, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-find-good-health-insurance/830593/16 "2019-03-06T02:59:51Z")
In my state and city, the college health plans are FAR better than any I can get through the ACA - individual or group. The company providing it doesn’t offer individual plans in all the state counties, including mine, just group student policies. I process people’s insurance where I work,and see all the plans; I would give my eyeteeth to have the college plan. Check out your college’s plan. They’re really cheap because students are young, low-risk and cheap to insure. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2019, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-find-good-health-insurance/830593/17 "2019-03-06T05:11:08Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > Yeah you don’t have to be poor. If you’re poor you get subsidized (and I think “poor” means like 400% of the poverty level) but if you’re not you still have access to all the same plans, you just pay full price. > > I make about $60k/year and I buy a plan straight up through [healthcare.gov](http://healthcare.gov) because my job doesn’t offer healthcare. It’s available to everyone. Yeah but that can mean paying $500/month for health insurance with a $6000 deductible. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2019, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-find-good-health-insurance/830593/18 "2019-03-06T05:36:06Z")
That’s what I pay. Well, $400 a month with a $6000 deductible. This is fucking America and it fucking sucks. The OP didn’t ask for cheap insurance they asked for good insurance. The place to go to look for insurance is [healthcare.gov](http://healthcare.gov). ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2019, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-find-good-health-insurance/830593/19 "2019-03-06T16:09:24Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > The OP didn’t ask for cheap insurance they asked for good insurance. The place to go to look for insurance is [healthcare.gov](http://healthcare.gov). Well, he hasn’t really said much about what he means by “good.” But, yes, [healthcare.gov](http://healthcare.gov) should be his starting point. Disclaimer: I am not a health insurance professional. However, I work in advertising, and have had health insurance companies as clients for the past decade. Machinaforce, if you just turned 26, you qualify to buy an ACA insurance policy right now; there’s a “special enrollment period” for which you qualify due to that life event. You have until 60 days after you lose coverage from your parents’ insurance. If you don’t buy an ACA policy during that time period, then you’re not eligible to buy an ACA policy until the “Open Enrollment Period” (in November / December), and the policy won’t go into effect until January 1st. Info here: [https://www.healthcare.gov/turning-26/](https://www.healthcare.gov/turning-26/) ACA plans are offered by a number of different insurance companies in Florida, including two major insurers (Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida and Cigna): [https://www.myfloridacfo.com/Division/Consumers/PurchasingInsurance/ACAIndividualCarrierList.htm](https://www.myfloridacfo.com/Division/Consumers/PurchasingInsurance/ACAIndividualCarrierList.htm) ACA plans are offered at different “metal” levels: bronze, silver, gold, and platinum. The higher level “metals” typically have higher monthly premiums, but also will have lower deductibles (i.e., how much you have to pay out-of-pocket per year before the insurer covers the rest) and lower co-pays (how much you pay out-of-pocket for individual services). As others have noted, ACA plans (even the bronze plans) tend to be expensive, in the absolute. One of the reasons for this is that they are fairly comprehensive plans – they cover preventative screeings as well as emergency medical treatments, and you can’t be refused coverage if you have a pre-existing condition. The sort of pricing that ZipperJJ describes isn’t atypical – I had to buy an ACA policy for two years when I was a freelancer, and for a silver-tier plan, which had like a $6000 annual deductible, I was still paying $1200 a month for family coverage. Also, the big insurers (like BCBSFL) tend to have higher prices, in part because they have a wide network of doctors and hospitals (and you pay less to use in-network providers). Smaller insurance companies may charge less for their policies, but they probably also have much more limited networks. There may be another option (though it isn’t necessarily a “good” option) – there are also insurers in Florida which offer what are called “short term” health insurance plans. These plans are usually less expensive, but they usually don’t cover nearly as much as an ACA plan does, and they can refuse to cover you if, for example, you have a pre-existing conditon (or they can refuse to cover any medical expense related to that condition). Also, you can’t be continually covered by a “short term” plan – they typically last for 6 or 11 months, but when your policy ends, you have to wait at least one day before you can be covered by another short term plan.