What’s the difference between $20 and 20%? Unless you work in healthcare (and sometimes even then) you probably don’t know the difference between a co-payment and coinsurance. Or covered and non-covered services, and in- versus out-of-network providers, for that matter. If out-of-pocket limits sounds like Greek to you, I highly recommend a New York Times primer on the subject of basic US health insurance terms. It can help you make more informed decisions when choosing and using your health plan. Because 20% of $100,000 is significantly more than $20, wouldn’t you agree?

The wait for 4-year interim high-risk pools to provide temporary health insurance coverage for those with pre-existing conditions should be over this week. That’s according to the time frame laid out in health care reform legislation. The reality is less certain.

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If you are under age 26, you may be wondering where the new healthcare legislation leaves you. The rules for continued coverage under your parents’ plan are complex and convoluted, which aligns them with the healthcare bill as a whole. But there’s good news.

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If you’re wondering how the new healthcare legislation affects the health insurance coverage available to you, California Healthcare Foundation may have the answer. CHCF has created some hypothetical scenarios for individuals in various life situations, and listed the options available now and in 2014.

Are you 22 and scraping together a living with part-time jobs? Maybe you’re a low-income 37 year old who’s not eligible for Medicaid and doesn’t know what to do. Or you’re a married 45 year old with children who can’t afford your employer’s coverage. Are you 50 or 60 years old with a pre-existing condition and thinking about starting your own business, or unable to afford high-risk pool premiums?

If any of those situations strike a chord, check out CHCF’s guide to coverage now and in the future. They’ve done the digging into the thousands of pages of legislation, so you don’t have to.