When you have Marketplace insurance, you'll pay your premiums directly to the insurance company — not to the Health Insurance Marketplace®. Your coverage won't start until you pay your first premium.

Health insurance protects you from unexpected, high medical costs. The amount you pay for covered health care services before your insurance plan starts to pay.

If your health insurer refuses to pay a claim or ends your coverage, you have the right to appeal the decision and have it reviewed by a third party. You can ask that your insurance company reconsider its decision. Insurers have to tell you why they’ve denied your claim or ended your coverage. And they have to let you know how you can dispute their decisions.

The amount you pay for covered health care services before your insurance plan starts to pay. With a $2,000 deductible, for example, you pay the first $2,000 of covered services yourself. After you pay your deductible, you usually pay only a copayment or coinsurance for covered services. Your insurance company pays the rest. Generally, plans with lower monthly premiums have higher deductibles.

Health insurance premiums are deductible if you itemize your tax return. If you pay for health insurance before taxes are taken out of your check, you can't deduct your health insurance premiums.