Answers to the questions we hear every day

A short-term plan is faster to get and easier to qualify for than most other coverage — often active the next day, with a start date you choose within about 30 days. It's designed to protect against a major, unexpected medical bill rather than cover routine care, so expect a higher deductible and fewer built-in benefits than an ACA plan. Choose a deductible you can genuinely afford; a plan you can't actually use when a bill arrives defeats the purpose.

These four letters describe your provider network, and they matter more than almost anything else in a policy. PPOs skip the referral requirement and let you see out-of-network providers at a higher cost — generally the most flexible and the most expensive option. HMOs coordinate your care through a primary doctor, require referrals to see specialists, and are usually the least expensive. POS plans work like an HMO but pay part of the bill for non-emergency out-of-network care. EPOs skip the referral requirement like a PPO, but keep you within a defined provider list like an HMO. See our full coverage guide for a side-by-side breakdown.

Start by gathering your birthdate, address, Social Security number, a household income estimate, and tax filing information. From there, assess how much care you typically need, confirm your preferred doctors and medications are in-network, and check whether you qualify for a premium tax credit or cost-sharing reduction based on your household income and size — those thresholds update annually, so confirm the current numbers with an agent rather than relying on last year's figures. Our step-by-step guide walks through the full process.

Most people qualify starting at 65, provided they've held U.S. citizenship or permanent residency for at least 5 years and paid Medicare taxes for at least 10 years to get premium-free Part A (you can still enroll without meeting the tax requirement, just at a higher cost). Some people under 65 also qualify: those who've received Social Security Disability Insurance for at least two years, anyone with end-stage renal disease requiring dialysis or a transplant, and those receiving disability benefits for ALS.

Part A is hospital insurance: inpatient stays, skilled nursing facility care, home health visits, hospice, and medical supplies administered during a covered stay. Part B is medical insurance: outpatient services, physician visits, preventive care like flu shots and mammograms, and equipment or medication administered during outpatient visits. Prescription drug coverage, vision, and dental sit outside both and are handled separately — a Medicare specialist can help you decide what combination fits.

You're not automatically locked out for the year. Certain life events — losing job-based coverage, having a child, getting married, moving to a new coverage area — trigger a Special Enrollment Period that lets you sign up outside the usual window. Short-term plans are also available year-round as a bridge if you don't currently qualify for a Special Enrollment Period.

Yes. In a true emergency you can go to the closest hospital, whether or not it's in your plan's network, and it must treat you regardless of insurance status. Insurers can't require prior approval for emergency care or charge higher copayments simply because the hospital is out-of-network. See our emergency care guide for the full picture.