Cheap health insurance does not need to be outside of your budget. There are so many cheap health insurance options available, and ways in which middle to lower-income families and individuals can get federal assistance to help pay for the expenses. Health care costs have skyrocketed in recent years and millions of people have been forced to deal with high bills. Affordable health care is not out of reach.
There are numerous free options that you may qualify for if you do not have coverage. One of these is the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), which is a program designed to cover the costs of medical care for children who are between the ages of 19 and the age of current. The CHIP program is voluntary, but you must be accepted into it in order to receive the coverage. If you are a student or an eligible non-couple with dependent children, you will be automatically enrolled in the program when you submit your student health plan application.
You will have to pay a one-time enrollment fee. Then you will be entitled to receive federal insurance payments based on your income and family size. There are several types of CHIP plans, each with their own benefits and premiums. In order to compare plans and premiums, you need to carefully analyze each plan. Here are some tips that you can use to compare plans and their pricing.
Shop around to find the lowest monthly premium. The lowest monthly premium amount will usually apply to children as well as to the self-employed and those who do not have a lot of coverage. However, you should realize that the CHIP program offers free screening and genetic testing for individuals who may not otherwise qualify for coverage. Before applying, you should calculate how much you can afford to pay per month for your premiums. You should also take into consideration how long you want to stay under the CHIP program. Remember, you can cancel your health insurance policy at any time.
If you are not currently receiving Medicaid or Medicare, you will most likely qualify for supplemental health insurance coverage usually offered by private insurance companies. Some examples of companies that offer this type of coverage usually include Aetna, Humana, Delta, Assurant Health, Blue Cross/ Blue Shield of California, Celtic, Fortis, Kaiser Permanente, and United Healthcare. Medicare Part B is usually available to anyone who is aged 65 or over.
As a special Medicaid advantage, you will most likely qualify for Medicare if you are pregnant, disabled, a member of the elderly, or have dependent children. However, even if you do qualify for Medicare, you may still be able to get part of your medical expenses paid for through Medicaid, depending on your income level and other individual factors. In order to find out more about eligibility for Medicaid and whether you qualify for Medicare, you can contact your local Medicaid office or Medicare Contact. Certain states also have their own programs for Medicaid and Medicare, but you may not qualify for federal assistance.
If you have one or more dependent family members, you will be required to get a full yearly physical. Be sure you get a copy of this document from each of your family members before paying your annual premium. If you don’t, the insurance company won’t pay anything for it. You may also have to pay for the service provided by a licensed physical therapist, regardless of whether you get a referral from your doctor. If so, it’s best to pay for the service up front rather than later, since the therapist’s services can add up over time.
Finally, keep in mind that there are three different enrollment periods, with special enrollment periods designated for specific groups of people. For example, there is the open enrollment period for those who are starting new jobs, waiting to have their children newly enrolled in school, or waiting to buy their first home. During the special enrollment period, your insurance premium will be adjusted to provide coverage for these individuals. There is also a special Medicare enrollment period for senior citizens. Before enrolling, be sure you understand the rules and regulations for each period. Remember that enrollees must begin the new policy when their old one ends, so make sure to read your insurance policy carefully.
