Are you shopping for health insurance or wondering what health insurance options may be available to you?  If any of the following questions apply, the links below may direct you to resources that could help.  

Are you an individual looking for insurance?

Please examine your options carefully before declining group coverage or continuation coverage, such as COBRA, that may be available to you.  You should be aware that companies selling individual health insurance typically require a review of your medical history that could result in a higher premium or you could be denied coverage entirely.  Please click here for more details.

If so, you can contact a health insurance company directly for information or contact your local health insurance agent to assist you in selecting and enrolling in a health insurance plan.  There are also state programs that can help.  Click here for more information about Access for Infants and Mothers (AIM), CalWORKS, Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), Healthy Families, Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (federal), Medi-Cal, and the Major Risk Medical Insurance Program (MRMIP); click here for Health Insurance Terms; and click here for Health Plan Comparisons.

Have you left an employer who offered group insurance?

Click here for more information about state-supported programs you may be able to take advantage of, including AIM, CalWORKS, COBRA, FMLA, Healthy Families, Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), Medicaid, Medi-Cal, and MRMIP; click here for Health Insurance Terms; click here for Health Plan Comparisons.  You may also purchase individual health insurance coverage; please contact the health insurer of your choice or your local health insurance agent for assistance.

If you have left employment, and your former employer offered group insurance, does your former employer qualify for COBRA (20 or more employees) or CalCOBRA (2-19 employees)?

If so, click here  for COBRA information, or click here for CalCOBRA information.

Is your COBRA about to expire? 

Click here for information about your individual health coverage rights under the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).

Are you elderly and about to go on Medicare?

Click here for Health Plan Definitions about Medicare and Medigap Insurance, click here for Health Insurance Terms; click herefor the Glossary by CalMedicare.org; click here for Health Plan Comparisons.

Are you an individual choosing from among your employer's selection of group insurance plans?

If so, click here for Health Plan Definitions and click here for Health Plan Comparisons.

Are you a small employer (2-50 employees) looking for a health plan?

Go to the California Health Care Foundation (CHCF) website http://www.healthcoverageguide.org with a primer for selecting small business plans.  If you need help understanding healthcare terminology, click here for Health Plan Definitions and click here for Health Insurance Terms.