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.
Disability insurance covers you for an extended period of time.... Read More
The Terrorism Insurance Act of Nov. 26, 2002. This helps... Read More
UK car insurance companies make substantial profits every year because... Read More
What are the factors involved in flat insurance? Do I... Read More
Whole life insurance quotes the most expensive kind of policies... Read More
Homeowner insurance quotes can vary in the amount they cost... Read More
Does the current amount that you pay on your insurance... Read More
Critical illness can happen to anyone, and often does. If... Read More
What is health insurance and why do I need it?... Read More
Why Private Medical Insurance Is Becoming So PopularRecent research indicates... Read More
There's nothing that has a greater impact on evaluating a... Read More
A Health Savings Account (HSA) is not a type of... Read More
If you're trying to decide between health insurance plans, you'll... Read More
A new financial tool is now available for senior citizens.... Read More
Term life insurance quotes are rarely a concern of single... Read More
Health Insurance For Seniors On The NetWhen a good friend... Read More
Getting your business up and running is exciting, challenging and... Read More
Many people purchase insurance thinking I want full coverage and... Read More
I've long wanted to write an article about Internet Leads... Read More
Whether you are looking for car insurance in Canada, the... Read More
Adequate life insurance to cover your income producing ability is... Read More
You can go online to easily find and quote auto... Read More
If you are going to be involved in an accident,... Read More
The(ACV)Actual Cash Value Policy DOES NOT insure the property itself... Read More
The information you need about the best term life insurance... Read More
A Bed and Breakfast, often referred to as a B&B,... Read More
If you've been out of school for a couple of... Read More
Do you like to spend all day being sitting around?... Read More
Since the widespread growth of internet usage and database building... Read More
With Nursing home Cost's running $4,000 to $6,000 a month... Read More
What exactly is Term Life Insurance?Term life is a form... Read More
The Health Savings Account (HSA) is an amazing tool that... Read More
The insurance policy is a package that includes more than... Read More
Why does health insurance cost so much? Year after year,... Read More
There are many choices for insurance. Insurance is a policy... Read More
The Health Savings Account (HSA) is an amazing tool that... Read More
What is a deductible? A deductible is the amount you... Read More
Listed below is a useful guide to life insurance terms.... Read More
The Health Savings Account (HSA) is becoming well-known as an... Read More
Catering truck insuranceNot many agents/brokers write catering truck insurance as... Read More
You've finally saved enough to go on that dream vacation... Read More
For most people car insurance is a the single largest... Read More
This article is written by a 27 year old female... Read More
Aren't all travel insurance plans basically the same?No. When you... Read More
Finding insurance quotes for California auto is now pretty easy.... Read More
The Health Savings Account (HSA) is an amazing tool to... Read More
The phrase "BUY TERM AND INVEST THE DIFFERENCE" evolves around... Read More
An automobile accident can be a terrifying event for anyone,... Read More
Many factors affect the premium you will pay for auto... Read More
When you start a small business you will need to... Read More
If you are going to be involved in an accident,... Read More
One of the most important things you will ever do... Read More
The biggest single investment most people make in their lifetime... Read More
Life Insurance is an insurance policy that provides an agreed... Read More
Insurance is always a gamble, a bet actually.You are betting... Read More
Drivers are applying for auto insurance online not just for... Read More
Many personal auto insurance companies consider your credit information when... Read More
If you find yourself in the position of shopping for... Read More
A Bed and Breakfast, often referred to as a B&B,... Read More
It is now possible to thoroughly research and buy health... Read More
If you're self employed, you may think of health insurance... Read More
There are many factors that affect the insurance rate you... Read More
Finding discount auto insurance is so easy when you do... Read More
Finding good car insurance can be very difficult. Here are... Read More
When you are looking for an automobile insurance quote, the... Read More
I have written many articles about the hard surety bond... Read More
Insurance |