Many employers, especially large ones, offer workers health coverage that is known as a “self-funded” (also referred to as “self-insured”) arrangement, which is where the employer pays enrollees’ medical claims directly, as opposed to traditional health insurance (known as fully-insured), where the employer buys coverage from a state-regulated insurance company. Most companies with a self-funded plan contract with a health insurance company to pay the medical claims and provide enrollees access to the insurance company’s…

Yes, if your employer does not offer you health insurance, you can shop for a plan on the Marketplace instead. The annual Open Enrollment period to sign up for coverage runs from November 1 to January 15 in most states. Depending on your income and household information, you may qualify for premium tax credits and cost-sharing reductions to help offset your costs. If your income is very low, the Marketplace will also help determine if…