Health insurance is something that covers medical expenses and prescriptions. The structure varies from country to country but the intent is that if you have a large medical bill you will receive some level of financial assistance.

In the United States, all children qualify in one way or another for healthcare. As an adolescent you should either be covered under your parents’ or guardians’ insurance or you will qualify for one of the country’s governmental healthcare options (CHIP or Medicaid). At this time you can remain on your parents’ or guardians’ insurance until you are 26.

When you’re a working adult, insurance payments are can taken from your paycheck. Another option is, if you have a partner, you may be covered by your partner’s insurance for an extra fee. If you are unemployed, work part time or work for a company that does not provide health insurance, you can get insurance through the government. At this time, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is the means through which you would sign up for insurance. But that’s in the future. For now, you should be covered.

If you have more questions about insurance (like deductibles or private vs public insurance) let me know. This is just a rough overview for you.