A guide to health insurance for low income families

Getting health insurance coverage can be a challenge for low income families. The reality is that many people in a low income household do not have jobs which offer benefits like employer sponsored insurance and paying for insurance themselves can be a financial hardship. Luckily, there are a few acceptable and affordable options for families who find themselves in this situation.

Entitlement programmes

Entitlement programmes are government financed programmes for needy people, such as the elderly, the disabled, those who have lost their job and those living below the poverty level. Medicare and medicaid are both entitlement programmes which provide health insurance for individuals who qualify. Medicaid is for low income individuals, while medicare is for the elderly. The eligibility Medicaid eligibility is determined by a family's income and resources, which must meet the requirements of the state the family is living in. There are programmes for children, pregnant women, people on welfare, the medically needed and sometimes parents of children. If anyone in the household is disabled and receiving Supplemental Security Income, then they will likely be placed of SSI Medicaid, which is specifically for disabled individuals. Some families will qualify for completely free medicaid insurance coverage, while others may have to pay a small deductible each month and a small co-pay when they visit the doctor. The final determination will depend on your income, available resources and family size. A family of four who makes $30,000 a year may have to pay a deductible and co-pay, while a family of six making $30,000 a year may not.

Cheap health coverage

For families who do not qualify for medical insurance entitlement programmes, but who also do not have affordable employer sponsored health insurance, finding cheap health coverage is a must. There are online comparison websites which will allow you to fill in a few personal details and receive a side-by-side comparison of the affordable health insurance in your area. Using this resource, families may be able to find individual health coverage which they can afford. You can sort the available policies by monthly price, deductible or co-insurance requirements in order to find the health insurance which is right for you. If you need health insurance, but have no other options, then this can be an invaluable resource.