Are there health insurance programs for single moms?
Yes, there are health insurance programs for single moms. Many health insurance providers offer coverage options for single moms that wish to buy health insurance for themselves and their families outside of what may be offered by an employer.
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Options exist for low-income single moms and single working moms. These include private health insurance and insurance through federal and state agencies. Most states have recognized the need for programs to assist single moms in obtaining proper health care for their families through their programs.
What type of health care is available for a low-income single mom?
The best choice for a single mom that does not earn enough to afford private health insurance is the Medicaid program. This is a state program specifically designed to help those that do not receive health care through their employers and cannot pay for insurance on their own.
Medicaid can be a confusing program and the rules vary by state. Many factors have to be considered to determine if someone is eligible for Medicaid. Some of these factors include:
- Age
- Whether the person is pregnant
- Whether the person is disabled
- Income
To learn more about how Medicaid works and whether you qualify go to http://www.cms.gov/home/medicaid.asp. Many states have made provisions for families to get preventive health care for their children through programs such as CHIP.
What are types of health insurance available to working moms?
The most common types of personal health insurance plans are:
- Copay
- High deductible
- Short-term
- Health savings account plans
These plans all have different advantages and everyone can find a plan that fits their needs.
A copay plan is probably the type of plan in which most people are familiar. The majority of people that have had health insurance through their employer have had some type of copay health insurance plan.
This type of plan usually has higher monthly premiums than most other plans, but the policyholder does not pay as much out of their own pocket for medical costs. If someone with a copay plan goes for a regular doctor’s visit, they would just have to pay a small amount, usually between $20 and $50, and not have to worry about the rest.
A copay plan also typically comes with some type of prescription drug plan. This is always a good benefit to look for considering how expensive prescriptions medications can be.
A high deductible plan might be a good choice for someone that would prefer to have a lower premium payment each month. With this type of plan the policyholder pay for their own medical costs until the yearly high deductible is met. Once the deductible has been paid for the year, the insurance pays for any other medical costs that year.
This would be a good plan for someone that does not have to go to the doctor regularly. Many people who prefer this type of plan do not need coverage for regular medical care, but still want to have good coverage in case they are in an accident or are diagnosed with a major illness.
A health savings account is another form of high deductible plan. What makes this plan different from other high deductible plans is that it is combined with a special savings account. The savings account acts as a way for the policyholder to save money tax-free to help pay for the medical costs they must pay for until their yearly deductible is met.
A short-term health insurance plan is a great choice for someone that needs to buy health insurance for themselves for a limited amount of time. Someone that is in between jobs, waiting for the benefits of a new job to begin, or is only employed part time and does not qualify for insurance benefits through their employer.
A short-term health insurance plan typically has two types of payments methods. If the policyholder knows exactly how long they need their short term insurance they can purchase a plan for that amount of time. If the policyholder is unclear how long until they will have a permanent health insurance solution they can pay for a monthly plan between six and twelve months.
What is a health insurance network?
Most health insurance plans have either an HMO or PPO network. An HMO network requires the policyholder to choose a doctor or hospital from a pre-approved list. If the policyholder chooses to go to a doctor outside of their HMO’s network, their insurance will not cover their medical costs.
A PPO medical plan is more expensive than an HMO plan, but it allows the policyholder to go to any doctor or hospital they want. This is always a good choice if someone has a preferred doctor or specialist that they would not be able to go to with an HMO plan.
Is an individual health insurance plan worth the cost?
An individual plan might be a bit more expensive than a plan offered through an employer, but there are many reasons someone might choose one. If the health insurance offered through their employer does not adequately fit their needs, an individual plan would be a better choice.
If someone has no medical insurance they should definitely look into getting their own insurance. Even if someone feels the monthly premiums are a burden to their budget they should remember that unexpected medical costs would always cost them more.
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