Orientation
Uninsured is a situation, not a dead end
Two foundational guides to get oriented, then three paths depending on what you need today.
Read this first
Uninsured? Start Here: Your Complete Playbook
No insurance? Work this order: check Medicaid/CHIP, price a subsidized marketplace plan (payments now average $178/mo), then use the cash-pay toolkit.
The complete playbook →Know the rules
Is It Illegal to Not Have Health Insurance? (2026 Rules by State)
The federal penalty for going uninsured has been $0 since 2019, but four states and DC still fine residents. See 2026 penalty amounts and exemptions.
State-by-state answer →