Health Plan News publishes daily news about health insurers, Medicare, Medicaid and the business of health care. Alongside that reporting, we maintain a set of reference guides that explain how each type of health insurance works, who it is designed for, and what to watch for before you enroll. This page collects every guide in one place.
Each guide is general information, not insurance or legal advice. Plan availability, premiums and rules vary by state and change every plan year, so confirm the details with the insurer, your state insurance department or HealthCare.gov before you buy.
Start Here
- Health Insurance: an introduction to how health insurance works and the terms you will see on every plan.
- Choosing a Health Insurance Plan: how to compare networks, premiums, deductibles and out-of-pocket limits.
- List of Health Insurance Companies: the 25 largest U.S. health insurers and a directory of more than 200 carriers by type and state.
Data and Reports
- Health Insurance Claim Denial Rates by Insurer: denial and appeal rates for 157 HealthCare.gov insurers, from federal transparency data.
- Prior Authorization Report Card: federal audits, state reports and physician survey data on prior authorization denials.
- Medicare Advantage Plans by State for 2027: plan counts, premiums and Part D options for every state.
- Medicaid Managed Care Enrollment by State: the share of each state’s Medicaid enrollees in managed care plans.
- ACA Marketplace Enrollment and Premiums by State: 2026 sign-ups, tax credit share and net premiums for every state.
- Health Insurance Market Share by State: the two largest insurers and market concentration in every state.
Health Insurance Companies by State
- Health Insurance Companies in Texas
- Health Insurance Companies in Florida
- Health Insurance Companies in California
- Health Insurance Companies in Illinois
- Health Insurance Companies in Ohio
- Health Insurance Companies in Georgia
- Health Insurance Companies in Michigan
- Health Insurance Companies in Arizona
How Health Insurance Works
- HMO vs PPO vs EPO vs POS: how plan networks, referrals and out-of-network coverage compare.
- Deductible vs Out-of-Pocket Maximum: how the two limits work together, with 2027 federal limits.
- HSA and FSA Limits for 2027: contribution limits and the new HSA rules for bronze plans.
- COBRA vs Marketplace: your coverage options after a job loss, with deadlines.
- Medical Loss Ratio Rebates: the ACA 80/20 rule and recent rebate totals.
Medicare Guides
- Medigap vs Medicare Advantage: costs, networks, prior authorization and guaranteed issue rules.
- IRMAA Brackets: Medicare Part B and Part D income surcharges and how to appeal.
Employer Coverage Guides
- What Is an ICHRA?: individual coverage HRAs and QSEHRAs explained.
- Self-Funded vs Level-Funded Health Plans: how employer plans are paid for and who carries the risk.
- Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs): what PBMs do, the big three and the 2026 reforms.
Guides to Health Insurance Plan Types
- Individual Health Insurance Plans: coverage you buy for yourself, on or off the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace.
- Health Insurance Plans for Family: how family coverage, dependents and family deductibles work.
- Child Health Insurance Plans: coverage options for children, including the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).
- Student Health Insurance Plans: school-sponsored plans and alternatives for college students.
- Private Health Insurance Plans: how private coverage differs from government programs.
- Self-Employed Health Insurance: coverage options and tax considerations for freelancers and business owners.
- High Deductible Health Plans: how a high-deductible health plan (HDHP) pairs with a Health Savings Account (HSA).
- Catastrophic Health Insurance: low-premium coverage designed for worst-case medical costs.
- Short-Term Health Insurance Plans: temporary medical coverage and the limits that come with it.
- Temporary Health Insurance: options for bridging a gap between jobs or coverage periods.
- Travel Health Insurance: medical coverage for trips outside your plan’s service area or the country.
- Health Sharing Plans: how health care sharing ministries work and why they are not insurance.
- Christian Health Insurance: faith-based health sharing programs compared with ACA-compliant coverage.
Finding Affordable Coverage
- Affordable Health Insurance: ways to lower premiums, including marketplace subsidies.
- Cheap Health Insurance Plans: lower-cost plan options and the trade-offs to understand.
- Cheap Health Insurance: what a low premium does and does not cover.
- Low Income Health Insurance: Medicaid, CHIP and subsidized marketplace coverage for lower-income households.
Benefit Funds and Other Health Topics
- 1199 National Benefit Fund: the union benefit fund for 1199SEIU health care workers.
- Medical Malpractice: how malpractice claims work and what patients should know.
- How Ketamine Therapy Helps Fight Depression: the research behind ketamine treatment for depression.
- Rhesus Negative: what an Rh-negative blood type means.
- Dental Assistants and Their Future: the dental assistant profession and its outlook.
Health Plan News Topic Hubs
For current reporting, visit our topic hubs: Health Insurance Coverage, Medicare, Medicaid and CHIP, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Health Insurance Companies, Prescription Drugs and Pharmacy, Healthcare Policy and Law, Hospitals and Health Systems, Healthcare Business, Health Technology and AI, Senior Care and Public Health and Research.