Low Cost or Free Health Insurance Plans

Depending on your income and other factors, you may qualify for a low cost health insurance policy from a private company, the federal government, your state or a local agency. Children’s low cost insurance may be available through your state.

You may be able to find information about a plan in your area that provides coverage for children on the http://www.insurekidsnow.gov website. Your doctor may know about plans in your area that you can investigate. Your department of health may also be a source of information. Often a local insurance agent who focuses on medical insurance will be know about plans available in your area.

Often these plans are not only affordable, but will also accept people with pre-existing medical conditions that make them difficult or impossible to insure in the private market.

However, you may find that the best low cost health insurance plans are available through a private insurer. Often programs offered through government-sponsored programs have limitations that you won’t find in a policy that you might purchase from Blue Cross Blue Shield or another carrier.

The limitations often include:

• A small list of physicians on their provider list
• A small list of hospitals on their provider list
• A lower lifetime or annual dollar limit on covered services

Sometimes you will find that a government-sponsored program is less advantageous when compared to a plan that is available in the private market. Sometimes a government-sponsored program is your only options. Be sure to get quotes and information from both the plans offered through the government and from an insurance broker who serves your area.