| If you don't have a job or can't get affordable health | | | | individuals and therefore should be considered |
| insurance through your employer, you are certainly not | | | | alongside other available options. |
| alone. The number of uninsured Americans only | | | | |
| increases with time. Some of the uninsured are those | | | | Private insurance companies offer a variety of |
| who have lost their jobs. Others are employed but are | | | | individual and family health insurance plans. These plans |
| unable to afford the health coverage that is offered by | | | | are similar to those offered by employers to their |
| their employers. | | | | employees but can be more expensive as you do not |
| | | | | receive the discounted group rate that is offered to |
| It may often feel that there is nowhere to turn for the | | | | your employer who has so many people participating |
| uninsured but there are inexpensive health insurance | | | | in the plan. They are an option for those individuals |
| plans available if you know where to look. There are | | | | who are between jobs or self-employed and need to |
| many websites now available that will help you sort | | | | find their own health coverage. |
| through your options for affordable health insurance. | | | | |
| Many of these sites only provide information on the | | | | Short-term health insurance plans are an option for |
| private companies offering health insurance which is | | | | those who are between jobs. These plans allow you |
| one of the reason many individuals feel they have | | | | to have coverage until such time that you qualify for |
| already exhausted their options. | | | | coverage from your new employer's medical plan. |
| | | | | While the premiums on these plans can be too high for |
| Most private health insurance companies offer | | | | some individuals, the option is available and may be the |
| coverage options that are all too high for most | | | | right choice for some. |
| uninsured Americans to afford. The websites that limit | | | | |
| their search results to these companies can be | | | | Health insurance discount plans are another way of |
| discouraging for uninsured individuals who believe they | | | | saving money on your health coverage costs. While |
| will never find a plan for themselves or their family that | | | | these programs are not insurance plans, they can be |
| will give them the coverage they need without making | | | | an excellent source for getting less expensive health |
| them go broke in the process. | | | | services for you and your family members. Discount |
| | | | | cards are issued for a small monthly membership fee. |
| The best insurance search sites are those that include | | | | You then pay discounted rates for doctor visits, |
| all health coverage options available to customers. | | | | prescriptions, lab work, x-rays or hospital visits. These |
| These sites will detail every source of available | | | | cards can be a good way to save some money on |
| insurance coverage including private companies and | | | | everyday medical care and wellness visits but they will |
| government-funded plans. | | | | not do much for you in the event of a major health |
| | | | | crisis so you should still consider getting full health |
| Many of those who lose their jobs may elect to carry | | | | coverage in the future from another provider. |
| COBRA coverage until they secure a new job in | | | | |
| which health insurance is offered. While COBRA is | | | | Group Health Expense Sharing Plans and Group |
| designed to allow people to have health insurance | | | | Health Insurance through membership in an |
| while between jobs, not all individuals are able to afford | | | | organization may be other options for those seeking |
| the coverage offered. They may need to look for less | | | | affordable coverage. Group Health Expense Sharing |
| expensive coverage on their own rather than electing | | | | Plans are not truly insurance plans. They are groups in |
| COBRA. | | | | which individuals can pool their money in order to pay |
| | | | | for health care expenses. These plans usually invest |
| Low-income individuals may qualify for Medicaid | | | | the pooled funds of members in order to generate |
| coverage. Many people mistakenly think that Medicaid | | | | interest money that will help fund health care expenses |
| coverage is only available to those who are | | | | costs for the contributors. |
| unemployed. This is not the case. Even if you don't | | | | |
| qualify for Medicaid, you're children may so you should | | | | If you belong to any large organizations, you will want |
| check out Medicaid availability before you consider | | | | to see if they have group insurance available. Some |
| purchasing a private health plan. | | | | organizations offer health insurance coverage to their |
| | | | | members. These plans are less expensive than |
| If you have been denied health insurance by a private | | | | individual or family health coverage you can purchase |
| company because you have pre-existing health | | | | directly from a private insurance company. The large |
| conditions, you may still be able to get insurance | | | | number of members who participate allows such |
| through a state high-risk health insurance plan. While | | | | group plans to have lower premiums and better plan |
| the coverage from these plans is generally expensive, | | | | offerings. |
| it may be the only coverage available to some | | | | |