Q. I thought I had completed my family, and was confident of never getting pregnant again because I had an IUD. So we bought an individual family plan from Blue Shield of California that excludes pregnancy. But I got pregnant anyway. I asked to be moved to a plan that covers pregnancy, and was denied because of my "pre-existing condition." Is this legit?

Today a reportedly skeptical Supreme Court heard oral arguments about the most contentious and least popular aspect of the Affordable Care Act--the individual mandate.

Q. I’m a candidate for high national office who just turned 65. I’m not signing up for Medicare because of my political convictions. Is there any downside to this?

Q. I just went on disability and am receiving COBRA through my former employer. But I’m about to move from Hawaii to Florida and will lose my COBRA. The only option I found is a United Health Group indemnity plan for just under $500 a month. It covers 50 percent to 70 percent of office and hospital visits, plus cash, including Rx, dental, and vision. What should I do?

Q. My employer has given me a choice between the HMO I now have and a plan with a $2,500 deductible combined with a Health Savings Account. My contribution to the HMO premium would be $153 every two weeks vs. no premium contribution for the high-deductible plan. I’ve had at least one major medical need for each of the past few years (this year it was knee surgery). Which is a better option?

Q. I’m now covered under my wife’s COBRA plan, which runs through March 2013. I turn 65 on Jan. 5, 2012 but wonder if I should put off signing up for Medicare for a year to stay with COBRA, which costs the same whether or not I’m on it. What do you think?

Q. I turned 65 in August and my husband is 60. I’ve been a homemaker and have never paid into Social Security. My husband is retired and will take Social Security when he’s 62. I currently buy health insurance on the open market and he gets his health care from the VA. My local Social Security office told me I’m not eligible for Medicare until my husband starts drawing Social Security. Will I be charged a penalty for Parts B and D because I didn’t enroll at 65?

Q. I’ve just been told that my Medicare Advantage PPO won’t be offered in 2012. How can I find out which carrier is offering the best PPO coverage?

Q. I recently switched to an Aetna policy with a $10,000 deductible. I take Lipitor and need periodic blood and liver tests. Now that I pay all insurance costs myself, I decided to compare prices from three labs in Aetna’s network. But Aetna said it was against their policy to tell me and the labs would only provide me with the price for people without insurance, not the discounted price they had negotiated with Aetna. If I’m shopping for canned corn I know the cost before check out. Why can’t I do the same with a simple lab test?

Nope. Earlier today a federal appeals court in Atlanta struck down the most contentious part of the Affordable Care Act—the “individual mandate” requirement that everyone must have health insurance or pay a penalty. But it has no immediate impact on consumers. Here’s why.

Q: I have Sjogren’s Syndrome, an autoimmune condition that has attacked my salivary glands. As a result, my teeth have been destroyed by the lack of saliva. Dentists say a bridge of false teeth will not stay in place because there is no saliva to form a suction lock. I must have implants instead. Can I get any help from Medicare with this expense, as it is a medical condition that caused the loss of my teeth?

Q. I am considering changing jobs but am concerned about insurance coverage for pre-existing conditions. My son had a transplant, I had a pituitary tumor, and my husband had open-heart surgery. If I change jobs and insurance, is the new insurance required to cover us?

Q. My husband and I are self-employed, with a two-year old son. We are considering joining the Samaritan Ministries health-care sharing ministry, which is a faith-based non-profit in which members help each other pay medical bills. Is that a good idea?

Q. I may have to change insurance companies soon, and I will also likely enter menopause. Will my new insurer consider that a pre-existing condition?

Q. I’m about to retire at age 66 and will lose my employee health plan. I could sign up for Medicare Part B but I’m not sure I need it because my husband is a retired federal employee and we plan on maintaining his FEHB Blue Cross-Blue Shield coverage. On the other hand, our friends say that Part B helps with out-of -pocket expenses. Which is a better choice for us?