An independent, plain-language guide
US health coverage, one life situation at a time. Start with yours.
Losing a job, turning 26, starting work, living on a low income, turning 65, working for yourself: each one changes which health coverage you can get and when. These pathways explain the options in plain language, from official government sources, and name the free official places where you can get a decision.
Seven pathways
What is happening in your life?
Pick the situation closest to yours. Each pathway explains the options, the deadlines that matter and the questions to have ready, and points back to the timing rules when they apply.
- "I need to know when I am allowed to sign up" The yearly window, the life events that open a second chance, and what has no window at all.
- "I lost my job, or my hours were cut" COBRA, the Marketplace and Medicaid compared, with the deadlines that close options.
- "I'm turning 26 and on a parent's plan" Why parent coverage ends at 26 and the four routes to your own plan.
- "I'm starting a new job" Reading the offer, the waiting period, and what it means for Marketplace savings.
- "My income is low, or I need coverage for my children" Two state-run programs, why the rules differ by state, and how to apply any time.
- "I'm turning 65" The parts of Medicare, the seven-month window, working past 65 and late penalties.
- "I work for myself" Estimating uneven income, choosing a metal level, and keeping the application current.
About the name
What "help" means on this site
The name says "help", so it is worth being exact about what that means. The help here is explanation: how the rules work, which options exist for common situations, and which deadlines close them. That is all.
This site cannot enroll you, quote prices, check your eligibility, fill in forms or take calls, and it does not give personal advice. It earns nothing from any plan or program and recommends no insurer. For a decision about your own coverage, the official sources below are free and are the authority.
- Not a broker or agent
- Not an insurer
- Not a government site
- No enrollment or quotes
- No forms or calls
- No personal advice
Where the official free help is
The places that can actually decide
These are official sources. This site is not connected to any of them and names them so you know where to go; search for them by name. Help with applications through them is free.
- HealthCare.govThe federal Health Insurance Marketplace, or the state Marketplace it directs you to. It lists local Navigators and other trained helpers who assist with applications at no cost.
- Your state Medicaid agencyDecides Medicaid and CHIP applications for your state. Medicaid.gov and InsureKidsNow.gov list each state program.
- Medicare.govThe official Medicare site. It also lists your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), which offers free, unbiased Medicare counselling.
- US Department of LaborIts Employee Benefits Security Administration explains COBRA and job-based plan rights, and answers questions about them.
How these pathways are made
Official sources only, and no figures that go out of date
Every pathway is written from documents published by HealthCare.gov, Medicaid.gov, InsureKidsNow.gov, Medicare.gov, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the US Department of Labor, and lists them at the end. Dollar amounts and calendar dates that change each year are left out on purpose; the official sites publish the current ones. The pathways were drafted with an AI system and have not yet had an independent human editorial review.