Nearly 50 million people in the United States don’t have health insurance coverage.  With the increasing cost of living, going to the doctor or dentist becomes almost impossible for most family budgets if there isn’t health insurance available to help offset the expense.

I’m lucky to have wonderful health insurance coverage through my husband’s job at this time, but the medical statements I receive from my insurance company literally make me ill!  For example, my son recently had to have an X-ray of his adnoids.  My insurance company paid $25 for the X-ray; but had I not had health insurance, I would have been expected to pay almost $400 for the same X-ray!  It doesn’t make sense to me that people without health insurance pay more for the same services than people with health insurance.

If you aren’t under health insurance through your employer or your spouse’s employer, there are some options for you to get reasonably priced health insurance coverage to help offset medical expenses, including:

Medicaid & Medicare

Medicaid programs are run by each individual state, and are available for lower income families, pregnant women, children, disabled individuals and the elderly to pay health-care expenses.  You may be eligible for Medicaid even if you have a job.  If you have children but are told you earn too much money for Medicaid coverage, try calling 1-877-KIDS-NOW to see if your children are eligible for insurance coverage.

Medicare is run by the Federal government, and is available to people over the age of 65, although in some cases people on disability and receiving social security disability benefits may also qualify regardless of age.

Organization/Group Plans

There are a number of organizations, community groups or Chambers of Commerce branches that offer health insurance coverage for their members.  While the organizations rarely contribute to the cost of the health insurance premiums, the rates are often lower than if you were to purchase the insurance on your own due to the group discounts.  Insurance agents can assist you in locating groups offering health insurance at discounted rates to members.

Payment Plans

Even if you are not able to get health insurance coverage, it’s important that you find a way to get adequate health care for you and your family.  If you call ahead of time, often you can make arrangements with doctors and dentists and health care professionals to make payments on the money you owe them for their services, which can help make it possible to get the health care you and your family needs.

• Health Insurance is Too Expensive
• A guide for those without insurance.
• The Benefits of Antiques Insurance
• Am I Too Fat for Health Insurance?
• All About Emergency Funds