Posts Tagged ‘Low Cost Health’
With the recession causing even more unemployment, health insurance is becoming an increasing burden on family resources. Here are some resources and programs you should consider when trying to shave off some of the rising costs of health care:
1. Workers’ Compensation
Commonly known as Workers’ Comp, Workers’ Compensation is a program that helps pay for injuries that have been incurred on the job. So if you throw out your back lifting a bag at work, you may be entitled to free or reduced medical care with your state insurance health plan. Any permanent injury is often compensated with a small stipend until you reach retirement age. So if your treatment is the result of an on-the-job injury, your employer must offer to pay with your company’s Workers’ Compensation program.
2. Individual/Family Health Coverage
Most people assume that if their employer doesn’t supply insurance, it’s impossible to get insured. Individual/Family Health insurance plans, however, are another option. Just as you buy home or life or car insurance, you can go to a company and buy health insurance. While these are generally more expensive than group insurance plans, you can negotiate your deductible and pick and choose your policies to fit your budget. Choosing an emergency deductible policy is the best way to maintain a low cost health insurance plan. That way, you can keep a Health Savings Account for smaller health issues, and you ca keep down your long-term costs.
3. Short Term Health Insurance Coverage
If you are in between jobs, Short term health insurance coverage is a great way to maintain coverage while waiting for a new job to start. To do this, purchase insurance from a private company (similar to an individual health plan), but only stipulate a small amount of time. This will keep your premium low.
4. Group Insurance from Private Organizations
America isn’t really a country that revels in the culture of private clubs and organizations. It’s a shame, because a lot of groups offer discounted health care for their members. Just like with an employer membership, an organization uses its large numbers to negotiate better deals for its members. If you are a member of the Northwestern University Alumni Association, you can get a variety of cheap insurance choices. It’s also possible to research what organizations have the best insurance programs and then join.
No matter what you decide, make sure the plan has the level of coverage you want, and don’t skimp on programs you’ll need for prices you want.
Nicholas Wright
http://www.articlesbase.com/finance-articles/how-to-find-a-cheap-health-insurance-plan-675671.html
will be returning to school, community college in wa. state. My children are 11 & 2. I don’t qualify for medicaid, however my income pays for rent, car payment etc. doesn’t leave me much. I need low cost health insurance..please help
healthquotes.awardspace.info – my family have this health insurance. It is affordable and has good coverage for dental issues.
Health insurance has been a topic of conversation on YA. Many support it, many are against it.
Currently the insurance industry is one of the most government regulated institutions in the USA. Their are federal and state laws that govern health insurance and make it a buracratic nightmare.
Our current auto insurance system allows for competition between companies on a national level. Keeping our insurance costs lows. If I leave my job, my car insurance stays with me.
Current regulations state that I must have a job to be offered health insurance. I leave this job, I lose my insurance and must use COBRA for up to 12 to 18 months to keep my coverage. Why can’t I buy my own health insurance and have it be portable across state lines like car insurance?
It seems to me that fixing these types of problems with healthcare is more affordable than implementing a national healthcare system. There is low cost car insurance, why not low cost health?
Civil – I read up on this web site that you mentioned. This is only for individuals who are self employed or own small businesses. First question they will ask is if you have a job that offers insurance. If the answer is yes, you have to go through them. So while this is a valid site, it doesn’t answer my question.
Bingo.
Combine the above mentioned portability and interstate insurance competition with tort reform, fair tax treatment for individuals purchasing insurance, and income tax deductions (or credits) for health expenses, and you will see the cost of health care dropping while the ranks of insured grow.
Market based solutions are the only option if this country wants to maintain (and improve) the quality of its health care while reducing costs.
Government based solutions may reduce costs, but it will do so by rationing and sacrificing quality.
Edit: The major reason that insurance is so opaque and expensive now is because of over-regulation. Companies are required to cover expensive procedures and treatments that do not benefit a vast majority of the policy holders (fertility treatment, drug and alcohol rehab, etc) It stands to reason then, that states requiring these treatments be covered are among the most expensive states to attain health insurance. Removing competition restrictions from insurance companies would do more to reduce costs and increase enrollment than any other solution available.