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Getting Health Insurance

If you are looking for health insurance, the first thing to do is figure out what coverage you are eligible for. Find out if you can gain coverage through your employer or if you can be placed on your spouse’s or parent’s plan (if you are age 26 or younger). About 55 percent of Americans have an employer-sponsored plan while another 10 percent buy health insurance on their own, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

Figure out if your income, age or other factor, such as a disability, makes you eligible for a state or federal health plan. For example, the federal Medicaid program is designated for those with low incomes and children while Medicare covers people over 65 and certain people under 65 with a disability. (See these sites for more information on government health insurance)

Before deciding on health insurance, it’s a good idea to do some research to find the best coverage at the best price for your health needs. These websites can help:

How Much Does Health Insurance Cost?

The cost of health insurance typically varies from state to state and from region to region as the population by age, race, and sex, the numbers of uninsured and providers, local health care costs, insurance companies and taxes vary.

When evaluating health insurance, you should look at how much you will be paying; both for premiums—money paid on a regular basis for health insurance—and through deductibles and co-insurance, which are the amounts insurance companies require you to pay for a health service before they cover a portion or the rest of the amount.

Don’t just select the plan that has the lowest deductible without looking at what’s covered under the plan. What’s appropriate for a healthy twenty-something may not cover enough for a person over 50 with a chronic disease. Also, check to see whether prescription drugs are covered as well as mental health services, and look at coverage differences for inpatient hospital care versus outpatient office visits.

MORE PAY FOR YOUR HEALTH CARE RESOURCES
How Much Will Your Health Care Cost?
What Are Medicare and Medicaid?
Paying for Prescription Medications
Health Insurance: Glossary of Common Terms
Getting Health Insurance