© 2026 The Asclepius Initiative Inc.
In the United States, people obtain health care coverage through several different programs, each with its own rules for eligibility, enrollment, costs, and benefits. These programs may be connected to employment, age, income, disability status, or military service.
Because eligibility can shift throughout life, individuals and families may move between different types of health care coverage or experience gaps in coverage as their circumstances change. When more than one plan is available, comparing plan options can help people evaluate differences in costs, benefits, and provider networks.
This page introduces the most common types of health care coverage, how people typically gain access to them, and how plan options can vary.
These materials were supported by funds made available by the Kentucky Department for Public Health’s Office of Population Health from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for STLT Public Health Infrastructure and Workforce, under RFA-OT21-2103.
The contents of these materials are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of or endorsement by the Kentucky Department for Public Health or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.