| The statistics are startling when it comes to | | | | company and buy individual or family health |
| the outrageous uninsured Americans and the | | | | insurance the same way you would by home or |
| numbers keep getting bigger. But what do you | | | | auto insurance. These plans work similar to |
| do when you don't have a job and can't get | | | | what an employer would offer their employees |
| individual or family health insurance from an | | | | but would be more expensive since you don't |
| employer? Or, what about all the families | | | | get the cheaper group rate and you would not |
| that have jobs but still cannot afford the | | | | have an employer contributing to some of the |
| health insurance offered by their employers | | | | costs. |
| and can't find an option for cheap health | | | | |
| insurance? | | | | Another drawback of individual and family |
| | | | health insurance plans is that there is |
| There are low cost health insurance options | | | | usually a pre-existing conditions clause |
| out there that, in fact, many Americans have | | | | (they may not cover pre-existing conditions |
| already implemented and are beating the | | | | or may not cover them until after a certain |
| rising battle against being uninsured. In | | | | period of time) and a medical exam. If you do |
| addition, more individual and family health | | | | want to choose an individual or family health |
| insurance options are being brought into the | | | | insurance policy, remember the higher the |
| market as the rising number of uninsured | | | | deductible you choose the lower your premium |
| Americans increases. This is great news for | | | | will be, but the more you will pay out of |
| people who just don't know what to do when it | | | | pocket when you go to the doctor or hospital. |
| comes to obtaining low cost and cheap health | | | | Getting a high deductible "emergency" policy |
| insurance. | | | | is a better way to maintain a low cost health |
| | | | insurance plan and keeping a Health Savings |
| Below are the top 10 ways Americans are | | | | Account for smaller health issues will |
| getting the individual and family health | | | | probably save you money in the long run. |
| insurance coverage they need. | | | | |
| | | | 7. Short Term Health Insurance Coverage: This |
| 1. COBRA: First, it is best to start with the | | | | is a great low cost health insurance option |
| Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation | | | | for someone in-between jobs or who knows they |
| Act (COBRA). If you are not employed you may | | | | will be starting a job soon. Short-term |
| be eligible to continue your previous | | | | health insurance coverage works the same as |
| employers' health insurance through COBRA. | | | | an individual health insurance policy (see #6 |
| This also applies to children going off to | | | | above), but you will only be covered for a |
| college... you also may be able to continue | | | | specific amount of time which would keep your |
| on your parent's health insurance coverage | | | | premiums down. This is also a good option for |
| through COBRA. This is a very good option for | | | | someone who needs time to examine their |
| people who may have lost their job and are | | | | individual and family health insurance |
| still undergoing medical treatments. If you | | | | choices but still would like to be covered |
| were to switch to another insurance plan, | | | | quickly to avoid any coverage gaps. |
| your current medical treatments may not | | | | |
| qualify under the new health insurance plan. | | | | 8. Group Insurance from Organization |
| But.. WARNING! This will not be a cheap | | | | Memberships: This is often an overlooked |
| health insurance option. The premiums will be | | | | source of cheap or low cost health insurance. |
| much higher and you may be able to better | | | | Some people are members of specific |
| afford one of the below options first. It is | | | | organizations that offer health insurance |
| best to gather all your available health | | | | coverage. For example, people who are members |
| insurance options and pick the best health | | | | of The Sacramento State Alumni Association |
| insurance plan for you. | | | | can obtain a variety of insurance choices. |
| | | | Although these organizations often do not |
| 2. Workers' Compensation: Many people don't | | | | help pay the health insurance premiums like |
| realize that they may be covered under their | | | | an employer would, the rates would be lower |
| state's Workers' Compensation program. If you | | | | because of the group discount. So, figure out |
| are being treated for any work related | | | | what organizations you are a member of and |
| injury, your employer must offer you | | | | see if they offer group health insurance. You |
| treatment under their Workers' Compensation | | | | could also research organizations that |
| program. | | | | provide group health insurance and join those |
| | | | groups, or even ask current organizations you |
| 3. Medicaid: Don't automatically think that | | | | are a member with to offer group health |
| since you have a job you won't qualify for | | | | insurance. They may just not realize they |
| Medicaid. Medicaid will pay health care | | | | could offer a plan to their members. |
| expenses for low-income families and | | | | |
| individuals. Each state sets the eligibility | | | | 9. Group Health Expenses Sharing Plan: This |
| requirements so qualifying for the program is | | | | is not insurance but works similar to it. |
| state specific. If you are working and still | | | | This is when a group of people pool their |
| don't have enough to buy health insurance, it | | | | money together and pay each others' health |
| doesn't cost you a penny to see if you or | | | | expenses... they pretty much become their own |
| your children qualify for Medicaid so it is | | | | insurance company. The contributions are |
| always best to check Medicaid first before | | | | pooled together and usually invested in order |
| moving on to the next options. And, there is | | | | to accrue interest on the pooled funds. It |
| good news about Medicaid... more and more | | | | works well when there are a lot of people who |
| states are adding health care benefits for | | | | contribute and everyone is only using the |
| low-income families so if you don't qualify | | | | money for major medical expenses. There are |
| now, keep informed of your state's Medicaid | | | | religious groups that use this model |
| and health insurance laws because you may | | | | successfully. Medi-Share is a popular health |
| qualify in the future. | | | | expense sharing plan and has been around |
| | | | since 1993. If you are interested in this |
| 4. Medicare: Most people know if they qualify | | | | option make sure you choose a group that has |
| for Medicare or not, but I need to add it to | | | | been around for a long time and has a good |
| the list just to make sure it is not | | | | track record. |
| overlooked. Medicare is provided by the | | | | |
| government and administered by the Social | | | | 10. Health Insurance Discount Cards: Again, |
| Security Administration. If you are | | | | this is also not an insurance plan but can be |
| sixty-five years old or older you would | | | | a good source for getting low cost health |
| qualify for Medicare. You may also qualify if | | | | services. There are many companies who offer |
| you are getting Social Security disability | | | | health insurance discount cards and they work |
| benefits. | | | | like this: You pay a small monthly fee for a |
| | | | membership card and when you go to the doctor |
| 5. State High Risk Health Insurance Pool: If | | | | or hospital you will get a discounted rate on |
| you are turned down by individual health | | | | your services. These are not for everyone and |
| insurance companies because of pre-existing | | | | one thing you have to remember is that if you |
| conditions, your state may have a high risk | | | | had a catastrophic health crisis the discount |
| health insurance pool you can obtain health | | | | on these cards is not a lot, so you would |
| insurance from. It may not be a cheap health | | | | still have an enormous amount of bills left |
| insurance choice, but it may be the only | | | | to pay. But, on the other hand, some people |
| individual or family health insurance option | | | | do choose to go this route and at least are |
| available to you that will pay for your | | | | able to get a discount on their doctor bills. |
| pre-existing conditions if you don't qualify | | | | These cards should not be used in place of |
| for COBRA (see #1 of this list). | | | | insurance and if you choose this option you |
| | | | should still be working towards getting |
| 6. Individual and Family Health Insurance: | | | | health insurance in the future. |
| This is where you just go to an insurance | | | | |