Taking Care of Your Health

People in the U.S. pay for their own medical care. Medical care is expensive, so many people buy health insurance.You should get health insurance for yourself and your family as soon as possible.
Employers may offer health insurance as a benefit to their employees. Some employers pay all of your monthly health insurance fee, and some pay only part of the fee. This monthly fee is called a “premium.”You may need to pay part of the premium. Usually, employers will deduct the employee’s part of the premium from their paycheck.
Doctors send their bills to your health insurance company. The health insurance company will pay for some or all of your medical services. Often you must pay a portion of your medical bills. This is sometimes called a “co-payment.”
If you do not have health insurance, you may be able to get federal or state healthcare assistance. In general, most states provide some type of assistance to children and pregnant women. Check with the public health department of your state or town.
If you need urgent medical care, you can go to the emergency room of the nearest hospital. Most hospitals are required by federal law to treat patients with a medical emergency even if the person cannot pay.