A guide to insurance across the U.S.
The United States has a patchwork system of health insurance coverage, in which people’s access to services and level of financial protection — not to mention whether they have coverage at all — can vary depending on their birthplace, age, job, income, location, and health status. To help journalists cut through the confusion, Georgetown University’s Center on Health Insurance Reforms created primers for how insurance works in each state in addition to a national overview. This project was supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
How does health insurance work in the United States? Click here for an overview.
Click on a state below to view a guide to insurance in that area.
This is a comprehensive resource on health insurance coverage and the federal and state policies that govern the behavior of insurance companies and impact consumers’ experiences. It is designed to assist journalists reporting on issues consumers face navigating their health insurance coverage and access to services. The Media Guide includes key data on sources of health insurance coverage nationally and in each state and the District of Columbia, an overview of insurance regulators and consumer protection agencies, and links to data sources about health insurance companies and plans. This resource was prepared by researchers at Georgetown University’s Center on Health Insurance Reforms and supported by a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The data is current as of November 1, 2023. Questions or corrections should be submitted to sc732@georgetown.edu.
The authors thank Charlie Ornstein of ProPublica for prompting the creation of this Media Guide and for his feedback during its development.
