How Can I Get Health Insurance?

Health insurance is an essential protection from the high and often unexpected costs of medical bills. Several sources can provide you with health insurance, including:

• Individual policies from private companies
• Group policies through your employer
• Government-funded programs.

In order to find the best health insurance policy in terms of cost and coverage, it is important to find and investigate all the avenues available to you.

Employer/Group Health Insurance

Many individuals are able to get health insurance through their employers, or other organizations to which they belong, by participating in "group coverage."

Group coverage can provide savings as the insurance costs of each individual are divided and shared by the group. Your employer may choose one particular plan for all employees, or may offer several options for different plans. In the latter case, it is important to compare the coverage levels, premiums, and other costs and benefits associated with each plan. This will allow you to choose the most appropriate plan for your medical needs.

Individual Health Insurance

If you are self-employed, or if your employer does not offer insurance as part of a group plan, you can still get health insurance. However, you are responsible for purchasing your own health insurance from a private company. Individual insurance can be purchased through a broker or online. Individual policies are generally more expensive than group coverage and may provide fewer benefits, so a broker can help you find the most cost-effective policy for you and your family.

Government-Funded Healthcare

Other individuals who meet specific criteria may qualify for healthcare coverage funded by the government, available from federal and state agencies. These programs include:

• Medicaid: Medicaid is available to individuals with low incomes that qualify them for government health care, and also to persons with certain types of disabilities.
  
  
• Medicare: Medicare coverage is available to seniors over the age of 65 and individuals with certain disabilities and chronic conditions.

Medicare and Medicaid are meant to benefit those individuals who might have the most difficulty qualifying or paying for their own coverage, or who may not be eligible for group plans because they are retired or have a disability that keeps them from working. These programs help to ensure that all individuals are eligible for health care coverage.

Tips on Getting Health Insurance

Here are some more tips on getting health insurance:

• Contact an insurance broker to help you find a policy if your employer doesn't offer one.
  
  
• If you are purchasing individual coverage, take time to shop around for the best-fit policy.
  
  
• If your employer does not offer coverage, you may also be able to get insurance coverage through a professional organization or alumni association.
  
  
• The Georgetown University Health Policy Institute has created a state-by-state guide for getting health insurance, which provides valuable information. It can be accessed at: http://healthinsuranceinfo.net/.