Landing in the US
US healthcare crash course: insurance, ACA, employer plans
US healthcare is one of the most confusing systems newcomers face, and getting insurance wrong is expensive. This guide explains how coverage works in plain English: the vocabulary (premium, deductible, copay, coinsurance, out-of-pocket maximum), the main ways people get insured, and how to avoid a gap in coverage when you arrive.
What you’ll learn
- The core vocabulary: premium, deductible, copay, coinsurance, OOP max
- Employer plan types compared: HMO, PPO, HDHP
- The ACA marketplace and qualifying special-enrollment periods
- Bridging coverage before your employer plan starts
- How networks work and why 'in-network' matters
- HSAs and FSAs and the tax advantages they carry
- Estimating a plan's true annual cost, not just the premium
It compares employer-sponsored plans (HMO, PPO, HDHP), the ACA marketplace and special-enrollment periods, and short-term options for the weeks before an employer plan begins. It also explains networks, how to read a plan summary, what HSAs and FSAs do, and how to estimate the true annual cost of a plan beyond the premium.
Educational content only, these guides are not legal advice.Read the full disclaimer →
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