| While group health insurance is ideal, there are | | | | being turned down due to pre-existing health |
| several ways to obtain affordable health insurance | | | | conditions you may have. The only stipulation to |
| in Michigan if you are unable to obtain it through | | | | this is that you must purchase your individual |
| an employer-sponsored group health insurance | | | | health insurance plan with Blue Cross Blue Shield of |
| plan. | | | | Michigan. |
| If you have recently become unemployed, you | | | | Why is this stipulation worth accepting? Because it |
| may be eligible for the Consolidated Omnibus | | | | is hard for people with pre-existing health |
| Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, or COBRA, | | | | conditions to purchase individual health insurance |
| which allows you to continue your health insurance | | | | policies. Health insurance companies sometimes |
| after becoming unemployed. You may also be | | | | refuse to sell individual health insurance policies to |
| eligible for the services offered by the Health | | | | the people because the companies feel they are |
| Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, or | | | | too "high-risk," meaning, they are going to be |
| HIPAA. Other possible affordable health insurance | | | | spending a lot of money on them. This is a sad, |
| options in Michigan include insurance conversion, | | | | but true, occurrence. |
| Medicaid, Medicare, and state-sponsored health | | | | Do not let the prices of individual health insurance |
| care plans which focus on low-income individuals, | | | | policies keep you from purchasing one, especially |
| children, and families, or those who can not | | | | if you have a health condition that requires regular |
| otherwise afford a health insurance policy. | | | | care, treatment, and medication. In Michigan, you |
| Yet, if none of these options are available to you, | | | | can obtain affordable health insurance. Contact the |
| you may have to purchase an individual health | | | | Michigan Office of Financial and Insurance Services |
| insurance plan. However, in Michigan, you can set | | | | for more information about purchasing an |
| out to purchase an affordable individual health | | | | affordable individual health insurance plan through |
| insurance plan without having to worry about | | | | Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. |