Health insurance open enrollment guides
Plain-English, sourced guides to choosing a plan, understanding deductibles and subsidies, and using HSAs and FSAs.
How to Choose a Health Insurance Plan for 2027
A practical seven-step method for picking a health insurance plan during open enrollment: check your doctors and drugs, compare total yearly cost, understand metal tiers and use subsidies and HSAs.
The ACA Subsidy Cliff in 2027: What Changed and What to Do
The enhanced ACA subsidies ended and the 400% of poverty line cutoff is back. See the 2027 percentages, the cutoff for each household size, and legal ways to lower your MAGI.
Open Enrollment Checklist for 2027
A step-by-step open enrollment checklist for 2027: the key dates, what to gather, how to review last year, how to update your Marketplace application, and how to confirm your coverage.
Deductible, Copay, Coinsurance and Out-of-Pocket Maximum Explained
What each health insurance term means, how they work together on a real bill, what counts toward the out-of-pocket maximum, and the 2026 and 2027 federal limits.
HDHP, PPO, HMO, EPO and POS: How Health Plan Types Differ
A plain-English comparison of the five health plan types: how networks, referrals and out-of-network coverage work, who each type suits best, and the 2027 rules for HSA-eligible high-deductible plans.
HSA vs FSA vs HRA: Which Health Account Is Right for You?
Compare health savings accounts, flexible spending accounts and health reimbursement arrangements: who owns the money, rollover rules, contribution limits for 2026 and 2027, and when you can have more than one.
15 Legitimate Ways to Lower Your Health Insurance Costs for 2027
Practical, legal ways to reduce what you pay for health insurance in 2027: subsidies, plan choice, HSAs, income timing, employer options, prescriptions and billing checks.
Cost-Sharing Reductions: Why the Silver Plan Can Beat Gold and Bronze
How ACA cost-sharing reductions work, who qualifies (income 100 to 250 percent of poverty), the 94, 87 and 73 percent actuarial value levels, and when a CSR silver plan beats bronze and gold.
Surprise Medical Bills and the No Surprises Act
What the federal No Surprises Act protects: emergency care, out-of-network providers at in-network hospitals and air ambulances. What is not covered, how to dispute a bill and your rights if uninsured.
Special Enrollment Periods: Qualifying Life Events and Deadlines
Which life events qualify for a special enrollment period: losing coverage, marriage, a baby, a move and more. Learn the 60-day deadlines, when coverage starts and what documents to keep.
Medicare Open Enrollment for 2027: A Step-by-Step Checklist
Medicare Annual Enrollment runs October 15 to December 7. Review your Advantage or Part D plan, check the drug list, use Plan Finder, and know the rules for Medigap, the Part D cap and late penalties.
Health Insurance for the Self-Employed and Freelancers
How freelancers and small business owners can buy coverage, deduct premiums, estimate income for the Marketplace and combine the subsidy with retirement and HSA contributions.