• There are a variety of health insurance plan options.Patient image by Angelika Bentin from Fotolia.com
  
  Staying healthy is important, but so is carrying health insurance, which will help defray the cost of medical services such as prescription drugs doctor visits, tests and hospital care. Most U.S. residents will be required to carry health insurance coverage by 2014. There is a range of insurance options available to people on both the individual and group markets.
  
  

Group Health Insurance

• For many people, group health insurance is the cheapest and most comprehesive option.Health image by Greg Carpenter from Fotolia.com
  
  Many U.S. employers offer employees group health insurance coverage, sharing the cost of insurance coverage with the employee. Many employers will also extend group coverage to an employee's family (or dependents). Group health coverage is a relatively affordable option, since group insurance rates and coverage are often lower and more comprehensive than coverage purchased in the individual market.
  
  

Individual Health Insurance

• Individual health insurance is often either expensive or less comprehensive.doctor visiting image by TEMISTOCLE LUCARELLI from Fotolia.com
  
  For those whose employers do not offer health care coverage, and for the self-employed, there's individual coverage. There are drawbacks, though: individual coverage is often expensive, particularly for people who are older than 50, and less comprehensive than group health coverage. An insurer can reject your application for coverage or impose an exclusion period where medical services related to a pre-existing medical condition. As of 2014, insurers will no longer be able to reject adult applicants for pre-existing medical conditions (as of 2010 insurers are no longer be allowed to reject children with pre-existing health conditions) and the government will offer subsidies to low and moderate income American citizens to help them purchase insurance in the new health insurance exchanges, which will offer a variety of individual plans and coverage levels.
  
  

Public Health Insurance

• Many people who have low income, qualify as disabled, have children 18 and younger, are age 65 and older or are U.S.military veterans are eligible for public health insurance, which is taxpayer supported.
  
  People who are disabled, and low-income families can qualify coverage under the Medicaid or Medical Assistance programs. Children can qualify for coverage under the federal State Children's Health Insurance Program, though every state has different rules.
  
  American citizens age 65 and older may qualify for health coverage through the Medicare program. Medicare standard coverage pays 80 percent of health care and medical services, and individuals cover the balance. Many people with Medicare coverage buy separate private supplemental insurance to cover the remaining 20 percent of the cost, though some employers also provide supplemental coverage as part of retirement benefits. Medicare beneficiaries also pay an annual premium. They also must enroll in a Part D Medicare drug program to cover the cost of prescription drugs or face a penalty for the years they are not enrolled.
  
  Medicare beneficiaries can also enroll in Medicare Advantage plans which uses their premium to purchase private health insurance coverage. Typically these plans offer prescription drug coverage and other advantages such as gym memberships and dental or eye care coverage. Medicare Advantage beneficiaries typically pay a monthly premium.
  
  Military veterans can qualify for medical coverage under the Veteran's Administration which provides free health and medical care to honorably discharged or retired military.