How to Get Health Insurance While Earning Minimum Wage
With the rising costs of health care, many small businesses are increasingly considering cutting the health benefits offered to their employees. If you earn a minimum wage, this puts you in a difficult financial position, and your health may be jeopardize if you can't afford to pay for medical care. Read on to learn how to get an alternate--and affordable--health care plan while earning minimum wage.
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Instructions
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Find out if you qualify for Medicaid coverage. This coverage is available to qualifying low-income families, children and seniors, and the eligibility criteria are determined by both the federal government as well as your own state's law. If you and your family qualify, Medicaid program will pay healthcare providers for your medical care. Depending on your state's regulations, you may have to make have to pay a percentage of the cost (co-payment).
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Look into your state's SCHIP program (State Children's Health Insurance Program). This federal government program was developed to provide low-cost health coverage to families with children (see Resources below). It provides funds to all the states for uninsured children.
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Join a not-for-profit organizations such as labor unions, clubs, associations and even your local church, which are organized to use the power of the collective group to negotiate significant discounts for benefits and services such as health care. Membership in a not for profit association such as the Alliance for Affordable Services (see Resources below), could give you access to affordable health coverage and save you money.
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Shop around for private insurance. Get quotes from independent health care companies and compare their costs and benefits. The least expensive health coverage is a High-Deductible Health Plans (HDHP). The monthly costs of this type of program are much lower than those of more comprehensive plans. However, you will have much higher out-of-pocket expenses, including a high deductible, that you must pay before the actual coverage begins. Take into account the discounts offered (e.g. for medical check-ups), payment plans, any waiting periods and the total out-of-pocket expenses.
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Minimize your health-risk factors to keep your health insurance premiums as low as possible. If you smoke or are involved in extreme sports, these are lifestyle choices that you may need to sacrifice to greatly reduce insurance costs, particularly if you opt for private insurance. Small changes in your lifestyle can greatly reduce insurance costs.
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Tips & Warnings
For independent insurance, don’t just contact one or two companies. The costs and coverage vary in extremes, and the more you contact the better chance you have of finding one that suits you and your budget.
Resources
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