Most Americans have a health insurance plan through their employer or are covered by a family member who has insurance through work. This type of health plan is commonly called group health insurance, and is generally the least expensive type. In many cases the employer pays the largest portion of the costs associated with the health plan.

If you or your family member leaves the job, you lose your employer-supported health plan. It may be possible, however, to keep the policy via a federal law called COBRA (Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985), which requires that if you work for a business of 20 or more employees and leave your job or are laid off, you can continue to get health coverage for at least 18 months.

You will be charged a higher premium for the health plan than when you were working.

You also will be able to get health plan insurance under COBRA if your spouse was covered but now you are widowed or divorced. If you were covered under your parents' group plan while you were in school, you also can continue in the plan for up to 18 months under COBRA until you find a job that offers you your own health plan.

Not all employers offer a health plan. You might find this to be the case with your job, especially if you work for a small business or work part-time. If your employer does not offer health insurance, you might be able to get group insurance through membership in a labor union, professional association, club, or other organization.

Many organizations offer health plans to members, and can take advantage of the size of the group to negotiate reasonable health plan rates.