Private insurance can be individual or group (for example, a company buys insurance for its employees). Most Americans who have private health insurance get it from their employers. According to the USCB, about 60 percent of U.S. citizens have employer-sponsored insurance, and only 9 percent of Americans purchase it personally.

In 2008, more than 95 percent of U.S. employers with more than 50 employees offered corporate insurance to their employees. Today, the country is taking active steps to encourage employers to buy health insurance for employees. For example, as of Jan. 1, 2014, under the Affordable Care Act, businesses with more than 50 employees have to pay an additional $2,000 in taxes if they don’t insure their employees.

Many colleges, vocational schools, and universities also offer students health insurance at the institution’s expense. Some schools even require participation in their sponsored insurance programs or show proof that the student already has comparable health insurance.

COBRA – for those who have lost their jobs
The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) plan helps Americans stay in the health insurance system for a while if they lose their job and source of income. Eligibility is determined, among other things, by why you quit your job.

There are other insurance systems in the country. For example, military personnel and veterans, and Native American health insurance.

Insurance for pre-existing conditions
Today, there is a federal Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan, or PCIP, a “high risk” insurance plan for people with chronic conditions. To be insured under this system, you must not have any insurance for 6 months, have a medical condition, and get a waiver from a private insurance company.

In early 2014, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act went into effect, making life easier for people who are sick. It gave all Americans access to health insurance, regardless of their health status.