Finding Affordable Health Insurance Doesn't Have to be Like Looking for a Needle in a Haystack (798 hits)
The task of finding affordable health insurance can seem like a daunting and almost impossible task. Premiums on individual health care plans can become pricy, especially if you are a parent with dependent children. And with so many different insurance companies advertising so many different plans, programs, and options, it is easy to be confused about what policy and coverage is best for you and your family.
Federally-Funded Health Centers: Federally-funded health centers provide health care and services regardless if you have health insurance or not. Many of the services provided can be paid based on your income and what you can afford to pay.
Independent Health Insurance: Before you begin a massive search for affordable healthcare, you must first determine your needs. What are you looking for in an insurance company? Do you have any preexisting conditions that might affect your coverage and premium rates? Do you have dependent children? Do you have another healthcare plan to help supplement your independent coverage? There are a ton of other questions you need to answer to determine your needs. There are many types of health care coverage plans including managed health care programs (known commonly as PPO, HMO, and PSO). Research the difference between these managed health care plans and personal health insurance policies.
Once you are clear about your needs, begin your research. Research local health companies and find out all you can about their policies and procedures. Find out how they handle and process claims. Look up their business record and get feedback and recommendations from family and friends. Then compare companies. Compare prices, deductible amounts, coverage and services. You may be able to take advantage of free online quotes as a mean to compare actual prices. Health care coverage and prices vary by state so be sure to compare comparable companies.
If you are a minority (African American, Hispanic, Pacific Islander, Native American, etc), The Office of Minority Health, a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, can help you locate information and resources to find affordable health care. http://minorityhealth.hhs.gov/
