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Rising costs and shrinking wallets: How to obtain health insurance without breaking the bank

Lack of health care is a dilemma, with approximately 47 million uninsured people all over the country. But health is usually linked to happiness and quality of life, so why isn't it easier and cheaper to find and keep health insurance? Unfortunately the people need health insurance the most in the United States don't usually have the resources to create a solution to the problem; they can only have an effect through their elected officials. But low-cost health insurance isn't a myth, and if you know where to look, access to health care can be a reality rather than a dream.

When you're looking for health insurance, the best place to start is with your household income.
Each state had a Medicaid program that has no monthly premium and can even cover up to 90 days of previous medical bills. It's available to individuals and children over age 6 who have a household income of 100 percent of the Federal Poverty Level or less (visit http://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty/08 poverty.shtml for 2008 levels or call your state's health department). Other potentially eligible people are pregnant women and children under age 6 whose household income is at 133 percent of the FPL or less, Supplemental Security Income recipients, recipients of adoption or children in foster care, specially protected groups and some Medicare recipients.
With the advent of the State Children's Health Insurance Program, passed by the federal government in 1997, a safety net was created for children whose families don't qualify for Medicaid but can't afford more expensive private insurance. Some states, like New Jersey have created a safety net for adults too. Each state runs their own program, although some states expanded Medicaid while others created separate programs. The names ran from California's Healthy Families to TexCare to Florida KidCare. Typically the programs cover children under age 19 whose household income does not exceed 200 percent of the FPL. One guideline to use is that a family of four can make approximately $42,000 a year and still qualify for SCHIP.
Medicare is only for people over age 65, except for special exceptions. There are several components to this federally mandated program. Part A is of no cost if the recipient or their spouse already paid for it through their payroll taxes while working, but only helps cover inpatient care at hospitals, hospice care and limited health care. Part B requires a monthly premium and covers doctors' services and outpatient care. Prescription drug coverage became available in January 2006 and usually requires a premium but is intended to help lower prescription drug costs.
Non-U.S. citizens also have options available. Companies like US NetCare offer affordable plans to immigrants, foreign workers, undocumented workers, Green Card holders, etc. Something immigrants should keep in mind is the even if they are not U.S. citizens, their children may still be eligible for Medicaid or the SCHIP program. There's also a federally funded Alien Emergency Medical Program for low-income children under 18, people in families with dependent children, people 65 and older, those who are blind or disable and pregnant women.
Advocates for the uninsured are constantly fighting to get the country covered and are usually good resources for health insurance information. For example, Cover the Uninsured (http://covertheuninsured.org) has state guides that provide people from all walks of life with places to seek coverage. Visit their Web site or call them at 202-572-2928.

Learn more about this author, Erin Petrie.
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