If you're self employed, you may think of health insurance as a luxury. When you're barely making ends meet, paying several hundred dollars a month for something you may not need isn't a priority. Or maybe you can't find a health insurance company to insure you because of a pre-existing condition. If you have no health insurance, you're banking on the hope that you won't get sick. But if you do, your business suffers.
If you can't get individual health insurance, or if the premiums are out of reach for an individual policy, there are a number of ways to get cheap and discount health insurance and health care.
Look Into State Subsidized Programs
Many states offer discount premiums for low income families and self employed business owners. Others have set up 'risk pools' that make your health care costs cheaper by spreading the risk throughout a 'pool' of people much like employers do with group plans.
Check with your state Health and Human Services office to see what health insurance discounts may be available to you based on your income. In most states, the income eligibility standards are quite high, especially in states that offer assistance for premiums with private health plans. You can get a substantial discount on family plans by joining a state health insurance plan.
Join a Discount Health Care Plan
Many organizations have worked out special discount rates with health insurance companies for their members. You may find discounts on health care and health insurance through your Chamber of Commerce, Small Businessmen's Association, even AAA auto clubs or fraternal organizations.
Another option is a discount medical club. For a monthly fee - usually about $30, you're eligible for discounts of up to 25% off regular costs for office visits, medical supplies and prescriptions as long as you use participating member vendors. Check online to find a discount medical club that has members near you.
Itemize Your Taxes
As of 2003, if you itemize your taxes, you can deduct 100% of your health insurance cost for the year from your taxes. There are limits and restrictions, so consult your accountant, or check the Internal Revenue Service web site online at www.irs.gov.
Shop Around for the Cheapest Rates
You can insure yourself through an individual fee-for-service health insurance plan for less than $100 a month if you shop around online for the best rates. In many cases, you can get online quotes for as many as 10 different health insurance companies and choose the one that suits you best. You can even apply online and be covered within 24 hours.
Unexpected medical costs can destroy your business. Some creative financing and unusual options for dealing with them can prevent that from happening.
To view our recommended sources for health insurance, or to read more articles about health insurance, visit: Recommended Health Insurance Companies Online.
Carrie Reeder is the owner of eZerk, an informational website with articles and the latest news about various topics.
The(ACV)Actual Cash Value Policy DOES NOT insure the property itself... Read More
Life insurance can be a very scary thing. If you... Read More
Aren't all travel insurance plans basically the same?No. When you... Read More
For most people car insurance is a the single largest... Read More
Shopping for car insurance can be a big undertaking. It... Read More
This is a FREE Insurance Claim GuideYour "Motor Vehicle" can... Read More
Accidents, personal injuries and insurance claims are here to stay.... Read More
The Terrorism Insurance Act of Nov. 26, 2002. This helps... Read More
There's nothing that has a greater impact on evaluating a... Read More
Finding insurance quotes for California auto is now pretty easy.... Read More
Over the course of the last ten years, car insurance... Read More
Health insurance is a kind of protection that provides payment... Read More
Naming a beneficiary for your life insurance policy can be... Read More
The biggest single investment most people make in their lifetime... Read More
If you think you don't have any need for auto... Read More
Lets face it, finding the best home insurance price quote... Read More
If you do not understand the way that auto insurance... Read More
Automobile insurance standard coverage is the basic amount of insurance... Read More
The Health Savings Account (HSA) is becoming well-known as an... Read More
This "How To" article is crucial, up-to-date information concerning what... Read More
One of the most important things you will ever do... Read More
Insurance versus assurance: what is the difference?Should you care?Yes!!The world... Read More
Health insurance providers are going online to find new customers.... Read More
Renter's insurance is protection intended for anyone who rents an... Read More
Risk ManagementAlternate Risk Transfer is a fancy way of saying... Read More
The(ACV)Actual Cash Value Policy DOES NOT insure the property itself... Read More
Filing a homeowners insurance claim can be done with ease... Read More
Whole life insurance quotes the most expensive kind of policies... Read More
While Legal Romantics would like to characterize the trial of... Read More
Health Insurance: a sense of dissatisfactionThe three C's, customization, consumerization... Read More
Several key changes are necessary to get control of the... Read More
In most cases, private health insurance comes through a person's... Read More
Here is a useful guide to life insurance. Simply put,... Read More
Car insurance rates are prohibitive nowadays. Many families really struggle... Read More
Finding auto insurance quotes online is easy, but finding the... Read More
If you decide not to do a car insurance comparison... Read More
For over 30 years I have been representing injured workers... Read More
There is always a chance that there is a better... Read More
Most people only think that insurance is something they need... Read More
According to a study by LifeSearch, the number of women... Read More
Americans shopping for their own healthcare insurance can substantially cut... Read More
Here are some useful tips on how to reduce car... Read More
Everyone is searching for a way of cutting costs, a... Read More
Many factors affect the premium you will pay for auto... Read More
When it comes to your family, selecting the right health... Read More
Homeowner insurance quotes can vary in the amount they cost... Read More
The Health Savings Account (HSA) is an amazing tool that... Read More
Life Insurance Companies differ in their "underwriting philosophy" when it... Read More
For a price, would you let car insurer along for... Read More
Whether you're looking for insurance quotes for auto, life, travel... Read More
Answering Service ResourceAnswering Service Resource |