Employer-sponsored health plans and individual health insurance plans are the two primary ways people obtain health coverage in the United States. While both types of plans provide access to medical care, they differ significantly in how they are structured, priced, and regulated.
Understanding the differences between employer and individual health plans helps consumers make informed decisions when choosing coverage, especially during job changes, life events, or Open Enrollment. Factors such as cost-sharing, provider access, flexibility, and eligibility for financial assistance can vary widely depending on the type of plan.
This section explains how employer-sponsored and individual health plans compare, when one may be more appropriate than the other, and how transitions between them work.
Articles under Employer vs Individual Health Plans
- What Employer-Sponsored Health Insurance Is and How It Works
- What Individual Health Insurance Plans Are
- Key Differences Between Employer and Individual Health Plans
- Cost Comparison: Employer Plans vs Individual Plans
- Premium Sharing in Employer-Sponsored Health Insurance
- Deductibles and Out-of-Pocket Costs Compared
- Provider Networks in Employer vs Individual Plans
- How Employer Health Plans Are Regulated
- How Marketplace Individual Plans Are Regulated
- Eligibility Rules for Employer-Sponsored Health Insurance
- Eligibility Rules for Individual Health Plans
- Financial Assistance for Individual Health Insurance Plans
- Why Employer Plans Do Not Qualify for Premium Tax Credits
- Switching From Employer Coverage to an Individual Plan
- Switching From an Individual Plan to Employer Coverage
- Losing Employer Coverage and Individual Plan Options
- Employer Coverage Affordability and Minimum Value Rules
- Choosing Between Employer and Individual Health Insurance
- Common Mistakes When Comparing Employer and Individual Plans
- When Employer Coverage Is Not the Best Option
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