Employer health plans tend to be pretty strong. Strong coverage costs a lot. You probably just didn’t notice when your employer was paying for part of it. Now that you’re on your own, you can probably find a Marketplace plan for cheaper. Definitely check. But how much progress have you made toward your deductible so far?

If your company covers most or all of dependents’ premiums, there’s no downside to adding your spouse to your plan. If both partners are in that position, why not both add each other to the other’s plan? You can see ALL the doctors and just pay whichever bills less, right? It doesn’t work that way.

COBRA isn’t real, like Santa Claus and the Tooth Fairy. I’m not saying that companies don’t have to follow the law. I’m just saying that there isn’t a basket of COBRA snakes in Washington, DC administering your health insurance like the IRS administers taxes.

The metal tiers are more about risk tolerance than coverage: Lower tier = pay less monthly, but pay more when you go to the doctor Higher tier = pay more monthly, but pay less when you go to the doctor

A health savings account (HSA) is an interest-bearing bank account where you can put pre-tax dollars in and use them for healthcare costs. But to be eligible to contribute to an HSA, you need a special high-deductible, high-premium health (HDHP) health plan.

I’m talking about the small business where an employee is on their spouse’s insurance or a Marketplace plan and the company just reimburses them for all or part of the premium like a regular business expense. You're not supposed to do that.

Let’s be real: Insurance isn’t there to protect you. It's is a financial product made to maximize shareholder value.

Did you know that your spouse needs to sign off if you designate anyone else as your life insurance beneficiary? Because if you croak, life insurance doesn’t want to get in the middle of your family drama. 

Since employer group plans need to offer the same coverage to everyone, employer-sponsored plans are sometimes the only way that people with serious or chronic health conditions can get any disability or life insurance at all.