If you do not have access to employer-sponsored health coverage, you may want to buy an individual health policy from a private insurer.  However, in Maryland - as in most other states - you have limited guaranteed access to individual health insurance in the private market.  There are some alternatives to private individual health insurance coverage - such as COBRA coverage, state continuation coverage, and Maryland Health Insurance Plan coverage.  This chapter summarizes your protections under different kinds of health plan coverage.