There are mostly private companies operating in the filed of health insurance in USA. They offer different kinds of insurance plans some are for individuals and others are for group health insurance. On their own set of insurance quotes. There are only two programs supported by federal government in this regard. First one is Medicaid and the second one is Medicare.
Medicare and Medicaid were made in 1965 by the Act of Social Security. It worked under HEW which is department of Health, Education and Welfare. HCFA-Health Care Financing Administration was created in 1977, under HEW-Health Education and Welfare. In 1980 department of Health and Human Services was separates and in 2001 HCFA was renamed as the center for Medicaid and Medicare Services.
Medicare actually deals with patients who have age over 65 or young people who need a treatment for life saving purpose. They provide with almost all basic necessities of a patient like care in hospital, services of physician and stay at hospital and briefly nursing at home too. But it only caters to the medical terms. Now Drug coverage has been added since 2006.It has two parts A-Hospital Insurance and B-Medicare Insurance. You have to pay to attain part B. Medicaid the 2nd program has basic concern with poor people especially women, children and other disabled people. It works mainly with nursing homes. In 1997 CHIP- Children’s Health Insurance Program was established which aims to benefit the people who cannot afford Medicaid or any health insurance plans.