Can't Get Health Insurance Through Your Employer?

by sarafletcher » Sat Jun 29, 2013 12:15 pm



There are a number of reasons why you may not be able to access health insurance the traditional way – through your workplace. Your employer may be too small to offer health plans to its employees. The insurance it provides may be out of your price range, insufficient for your health care needs, or too limited in scope. You may work for yourself.

Whatever the reason, just because you can’t get insurance through work doesn’t mean you have to go without. Having health insurance is important in order to access direct primary care and get treatment for serious health issues without forcing you into bankruptcy. Consider the following options for accessing health care.

Get Insurance Through Your Spouse

If your spouse receives access to insurance through their own workplace, you may be able to join in on their plan. This is by far the easiest way to access insurance. However, it still has its drawbacks:

Switching from an individual plan to a family plan may result in a significant increase in your insurance premium. Compare the insurance’s family plan to the cost of other options to determine if it’s the best choice for your budget.

According to the SBA, in order to reduce costs, some companies now refuse to cover their employees’ spouses under the company insurance plan. You may still be able to buy into the insurance – but at the full price.

Join a Membership-Based Wellness Program

When you sign up for a membership-based health care plan, you are not purchasing insurance. Rather, you are purchasing the services of a primary care doctor in exchange for a yearly fee. Under this type of health care model, you receive access to a primary care doctor, as well as affiliated specialists, without dealing with an insurance provider as a financial intermediary. Proponents of this model claim that it enables doctors to provide better care for their patients – and gives patients greater access to their doctor when they need them, for less cost.

Membership programs often offer tiered plans based on your budget expected health care needs. Certain tests, prescriptions, and procedures may or may not be included, depending on the level of membership – but can be purchased out-of-pocket for much less than the going rate.

Membership programs can fully replace your health insurance, or work with your plan to provide you with the most comprehensive care possible.

Purchase Individual Insurance

You can purchase health insurance directly from an insurance provider. Most insurances offer a wide range of plans depending on where you live. These plans may have:

Low premiums, but a high deductible, copay, or coinsurance.

High premiums with a low deductible.

Low premiums with limited coverage.

If you’re self-employed, check with the US Small Business Administration to make sure you’re aware of all your options.

The insurance option you choose needs to fit with your budget while still enabling you to access health care when you need it. Look into the above options to determine which one best fits with your budget, your lifestyle, and your health care needs.

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