Affordable Health Insurance Information

Finding affordable health insurance information is easy online. Every major health insurance company offers a variety of health plans at different costs. Visit their websites to find a wealth of plan information, obtain quotes and apply for coverage. Other websites offer the opportunity to compare different plans at once. Information about public health plans, often available to those with no or little income, such as Medicaid and Medicare are available on the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and your state's department of insurance websites.

Finding and Comparing Health Plans

• Start looking for affordable health insurance information online. Visit websites such as ehealthinsurance or gohealthinsurance that offer side-by-side displays of different health plans. Additionally, go to the websites of major health plans such as United HealthCare, Cigna, Aetna and your regional Blue Cross plan to get information about the different plans offered. Obtain a quote to compare premiums and out-of-pocket costs such as deductibles, co-pays and co-insurance. Finally, note if the affordable plans have exclusions for pre-existing conditions or other specific services.

Catastrophic Plans

• Catastrophic health insurance is one of the most affordable types of health plans. Known as a bare-bones plan that covers hospitalization and care related to emergencies and accidents, it does not cover preventative and routine care. This is the insurance plan to have if you are healthy but want protection in the event of an accident or major illness. Catastrophic plans typically have low monthly premiums but high deductibles, which is the amount you pay out-of-pocket before the insurance pays.

Short-Term Health Insurance

• When you've lost employer-sponsored coverage and do not qualify for COBRA or other subsidized plans, you may consider short-term health insurance. Short-term coverage is temporary, for one to12 months, until longer-term coverage is an option for you. These plans are often more affordable than longer-term individual insurance plans. Found in a variety of monthly premiums and out-of-pocket costs, short-term insurance plans, like catastrophic plans, only cover care related to emergencies and major illness. These plans have an end date after 12 months without renewal options.

Government-Sponsored Health Plans

• Federal and state-sponsored health plans such as Medicare and Medicaid may be available as an affordable health insurance option. The federal government provides tools on its GovBenefits and BenefitsCheckUp websites to determine eligibility for public health care programs. Additionally, visit your state's department of insurance or public health website to view the options for medical assistance plans. Often, states offer full-coverage health plans to adults and children with financial needs, with low monthly premiums.