Health Insurance
Only about 9.2% of the American population had no health insurance coverage in 2021, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports in its National Center for Health Statistics. More than 60% got their coverage through an employer or in the private insurance marketplace while the rest were covered by government-subsidized programs including Medicare and Medicaid, veterans’ benefits programs, and the federal marketplace commonly known as Obamacare.

Having medical insurance means that you have no reason to avoid an annual wellness visit or a doctor’s visit for an occasional ailment. And you won’t get stuck with a massive bill if you or a member of your family have an accident or develop a chronic disease.
If you’re on a very tight budget, even a minimal policy is better than none. If your income is low, you may be one of the 80 million Americans who are eligible for Medicaid.

If your income is moderate but doesn’t stretch to insurance coverage, you may be eligible for subsidized coverage under the federal Affordable Care Act.

The best and least expensive option for salaried employees is usually participating in your employer’s insurance program, if your employer has one. The average annual premium cost to the employee in an employer-sponsored health care program was $7,739 for single coverage and $22,221 for a family plan in 2021, according to research published by the Kaiser Family Foundation.

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