It’s a question you might naturally ask, especially if you’re generally healthy. But there are many reasons for having health insurance.

• Health insurance is designed to help prepare for unexpected moments in life, like accidents or illnesses.
  
• Without health insurance, you could be faced with paying medical bills yourself, and health care can be expensive.
  
• Health insurance can help you stay on track with preventive care — which may be covered by insurance at 100% in many cases. Regular doctor visits may help you stay healthier over time.

Taking care of your health needs in a timely way is important to your overall health. That's why getting health insurance may be one of the most important choices you make.

Finding the right health insurance plan is important, and your situation determines your options such as:

Medicaid (if you have a lower income)

• Medicare (if you're 65 or older or have certain disabilities)
  
• Short-term coverage (temporary coverage gaps)
  
• Individual plans, including Affordable Care Act (ACA) plans
  

Most health insurance plans offer an open enrollment window once a year when you can start, stop, or change your plan. Some plans offer fixed benefit health insurance, a type of fixed indemnity insurance that pays preset amounts for certain services.

A life-changing event may make you eligible for a special enrollment period. Examples include:

• Getting married or divorced
  
• Having a baby
  
• Gaining a dependent
  
• Moving
  
• Losing a job or landing a new job
  
• Turning 65 years old

Costs vary based on:

• Your age
  
• Where you live
  
• Whether you use tobacco
  
• How many people are covered
  
• The type of plan you choose

Your best plan option depends on your unique budget and needs.

Coverage varies by plan. Reviewing your plan documents or online account is important. Plans may cover:

• Preventive services (when delivered by a network doctor or provider)
  
• Pre-existing conditions
  
• Mental and behavioral health services
  
• Prescription drugs
  
• Some medical devices (like breast pumps)
  
• Maternity care
  
• Some costs of cancer treatment

Coverage may include both large events (hospital stays, emergencies) and smaller ones (routine checkups).

Prescription coverage varies by plan. To understand your benefits:

• Review the plan’s Prescription Drug List (PDL) or formulary
  
• Know which tiers medications fall under — tiers impact pricing
  
• Be aware of brand, generic, and biosimilar drug categories

This is especially important if you take medications regularly.

An Explanation of Benefits (EOB) is a statement from your insurance company summarizing:

• The services you received
  
• The costs involved
  
• The amount your plan covered
  
• What you may need to pay

It is not a bill. An EOB helps you understand the breakdown of your health care costs after a claim has been filed.