If you don’t have a job or can’t get affordable health insurance through your employer, you are certainly not alone. The number of uninsured Americans only increases with time. Some of the uninsured are those who have lost their jobs. Others are employed but are unable to afford the health coverage that is offered by their employers.

It may often feel that there is nowhere to turn for the uninsured but there are inexpensive health insurance plans available if you know where to look. There are many websites now available that will help you sort through your options for affordable health insurance. Many of these sites only provide information on the private companies offering health insurance which is one of the reason many individuals feel they have already exhausted their options.

Most private health insurance companies offer coverage options that are all too high for most uninsured Americans to afford. The websites that limit their search results to these companies can be discouraging for uninsured individuals who believe they will never find a plan for themselves or their family that will give them the coverage they need without making them go broke in the process.

The best insurance search sites are those that include all health coverage options available to customers. These sites will detail every source of available insurance coverage including private companies and government-funded plans.

Many of those who lose their jobs may elect to carry COBRA coverage until they secure a new job in which health insurance is offered. While COBRA is designed to allow people to have health insurance while between jobs, not all individuals are able to afford the coverage offered. They may need to look for less expensive coverage on their own rather than electing COBRA.

Low-income individuals may qualify for Medicaid coverage. Many people mistakenly think that Medicaid coverage is only available to those who are unemployed. This is not the case. Even if you don’t qualify for Medicaid, you’re children may so you should check out Medicaid availability before you consider purchasing a private health plan.

If you have been denied health insurance by a private company because you have pre-existing health conditions, you may still be able to get insurance through a state high-risk health insurance plan. While the coverage from these plans is generally expensive, it may be the only coverage available to some individuals and therefore should be considered alongside other available options.

Private insurance companies offer a variety of individual and family health insurance plans. These plans are similar to those offered by employers to their employees but can be more expensive as you do not receive the discounted group rate that is offered to your employer who has so many people participating in the plan. They are an option for those individuals who are between jobs or self-employed and need to find their own health coverage.

Short-term health insurance plans are an option for those who are between jobs. These plans allow you to have coverage until such time that you qualify for coverage from your new employer’s medical plan. While the premiums on these plans can be too high for some individuals, the option is available and may be the right choice for some.

Health insurance discount plans are another way of saving money on your health coverage costs. While these programs are not insurance plans, they can be an excellent source for getting less expensive health services for you and your family members. Discount cards are issued for a small monthly membership fee. You then pay discounted rates for doctor visits, prescriptions, lab work, x-rays or hospital visits. These cards can be a good way to save some money on everyday medical care and wellness visits but they will not do much for you in the event of a major health crisis so you should still consider getting full health coverage in the future from another provider.

Group Health Expense Sharing Plans and Group Health Insurance through membership in an organization may be other options for those seeking affordable coverage. Group Health Expense Sharing Plans are not truly insurance plans. They are groups in which individuals can pool their money in order to pay for health care expenses. These plans usually invest the pooled funds of members in order to generate interest money that will help fund health care expenses costs for the contributors.

If you belong to any large organizations, you will want to see if they have group insurance available. Some organizations offer health insurance coverage to their members. These plans are less expensive than individual or family health coverage you can purchase directly from a private insurance company. The large number of members who participate allows such group plans to have lower premiums and better plan offerings.