If you are like many people, you may have found yourself in a position where you had to decide between going into debt or keeping your health insurance. Some people have decided to drop their insurance and hope for the best. They have gone years without visiting a doctor and live with the constant fear of lacking insurance and cash to cover a medical emergency. Here are some low-cost health insurance options for people in that circumstance to consider.
Visit Community Health Centers
Across the United States, there are more than 9,000 federally or state-supported public community health centers. You won’t get turned away because you don’t have insurance or cannot afford to pay.
Do not think that community health centers are just for low-income people. Health centers treat tens of millions of Americans every year. A good percentage of them are in the middle class. The reason why more people don’t use them is that they don’t realize the centers exist.
Health center patients have a sliding income scale. They will pay between $30 and $40 for a visit.
Get Short-Term Health Insurance
If you are looking for inexpensive non Obamacare health insurance, short-term health insurance may be the way to go. Short-term health insurance is less expensive than comprehensive health insurance, so it is an attractive option for people who need temporary coverage.
Short-term plans are sold with terms of up to 364 days. In most cases, you can renew your plan for a total of 36 months. Some states restrict the sale of short-term insurance or put limitations on their duration. Although short-term health insurance is a good option, it may not be right for everyone.
Visit a Nurse Practitioner
In the United States, there are more than 160,000 nurse practitioners. Nurse practitioners do just about everything primary care doctors do. They are playing a role in primary healthcare. Some states do not allow nurse practitioners to prescribe medications, so they will work with a primary physician.
Since nurse practitioners are paid less than physicians, working with a nurse practitioner can lower the cost per patient visit by up to 33 percent. This allows people to get medical care with greater frequency.
Health insurance is a must in modern society. If traditional health insurance is outside your budget, look at alternative options for getting healthcare or insurance, that way you at least have options should you get sick or a medical emergency arise.