Expanding coverage: maintain a role for the individual market

When most Americans think about health insurance, their frame of reference is employer- or government-sponsored health plans. But individual health insurance differs from these models. Most importantly, while individual insurance provides protection against unexpected medical expenses, it is limited in its ability to subsidize the expenses of people who already have serious health conditions when they enter the market. Nevertheless, it remains a vital part of our health care system, protecting millions of Americans against unexpected expenses at lower premium levels than many might assume.