| Medical bills are responsible for more | | | | charge you a monthly premium and cover |
| than half of the personal bankruptcies | | | | your doctor visits, prescription drug |
| in the U.S., and that number is | | | | costs, and hospital fees. You are |
| climbing. If you don't have health | | | | responsible for paying a deductible |
| insurance you risk losing everything you | | | | before your insurer will pay for your |
| own. Here's how to get affordable family | | | | medical bills, and you'll also have to |
| health insurance quotes so you won't | | | | pay a percentage of those bills (usually |
| face that situation. | | | | 20%). |
| Government Sponsored Programs | | | | Indemnity plans are the most expensive |
| There are a number of no-cost and | | | | plans and involve the most paperwork. |
| low-cost government programs you may be | | | | Managed health care plans (HMOs, PPOs, |
| eligible for. These include: | | | | and POSs) - These plans charge you |
| Federal programs - Medicaid is a | | | | either a monthly premium or charge you |
| federally funded health insurance | | | | for services as they're rendered. They |
| program that provides health care for | | | | pay for your doctor visits, prescription |
| low-income adults and families, pregnant | | | | drug costs, and hospital fees. You are |
| women, elderly adults, people who are | | | | assigned you to a group of health care |
| disabled, and people who care for a | | | | providers - doctors and hospitals - you |
| disabled family member. For more | | | | must use for your care. |
| information on Medicare, visit the | | | | Managed health care plans are the |
| Medicare website at medicare.gov. | | | | cheapest plans and involve the least |
| State programs - Every state has a | | | | paperwork. |
| number of health care programs for low | | | | Affordable Health Insurance |
| income adults, families, and children. | | | | In order to get affordable health |
| For instance, the Children's Health | | | | insurance you first of all need to |
| Insurance Program (CHIP) is available to | | | | choose a plan that fits your needs, then |
| families who cannot afford to pay for | | | | you need to compare rates to see which |
| insurance for their children but who | | | | company has the most affordable rate. |
| earn too much to qualify for Medicaid. | | | | Visit or click on the following link to |
| For more information about | | | | get affordable family health insurance |
| state-sponsored programs and to see if | | | | quotes from top-rated companies and see |
| you qualify for any of their programs, | | | | how much you can save. You can get more |
| visit your state's department of health | | | | tips and advice in their Articles |
| services or department of human | | | | section, and get answers to your |
| services. | | | | questions from an insurance expert by |
| Private Plans | | | | using their online chat service. |
| If you don't qualify for a government | | | | The author, Brian Stevens, is a former |
| sponsored health care program your other | | | | insurance agent and financial consultant |
| option is a private health care plan. | | | | who has written a number of articles on |
| These plans fall under two categories: | | | | how to get affordable family health |
| Indemnity plans (also known as | | | | insurance quotes. |
| fee-for-service plans) - These plans | | | | |