Free health insurance seems like
an oxymoron. Health insurance is one of the biggest expenses
many families face in this country. It regularly costs more
than the average income of a minimum wage earner to buy insurance
to cover a family. With premiums at record highs, and no sign
of falling, can there possibly be such a thing as free health
insurance? The answer is yes, but it’s a
qualified yes. You can find free health insurance if you meet
certain specific criteria.
Children across the country can be
insured for free through the United States Department of Health
and Human Services. This insurance will pay for doctor visits,
prescription medicines, hospitalizations and other medical expenses
incurred by qualifying children. Every state’s program is a little different, so it is important
to check with your state insurance board to find out what the
requirements are for your family to qualify for free children’s
insurance. These programs can offer uninsured children the chance
to go to the doctor when they need to, get glasses, and have dental
care that may have been ignored because their families couldn’t
afford to take them to the doctor. Only the poorest families are
likely to qualify for free health insurance for their children,
but even middle class families are offered lower premiums than
they can find on the private insurance market. Families making
less than two thousand dollars a month can received completely
free health insurance for their children in some states.
Finding free health insurance for
adults is a more difficult matter. Once again, whether or not
governmentally funded free health insurance is available for
you is related to your income. Adults 65 years of age and older
with a low income may be able to get free health insurance through
Medicare. Other adults may qualify for federally or state funded
insurance plans based on their income and other requirements.
This depends on the state in which you live. While all states
have free children’s
insurance available, fewer have similar programs for adults.
In Washington state, pregnant women
with income under a certain level can qualify for free health
insurance for the duration of their pregnancy. Adults with families
and some singles with lower incomes also have the possibility
of getting free or low cost health insurance through the public
health system. Whether or not you will qualify for such a service
depends on your state and its individual requirements. Again,
not all states maintain such a system for adults, so you’ll
have to contact your state insurance board to find out whether
you can qualify for free health insurance.
Free health insurance isn’t a myth, but only certain people
in particular income brackets can qualify for it. Fortunately,
most programs that offer free health insurance also offer lower
cost health insurance to those who can’t qualify for complete
assistance. Your state insurance board could be the answer to
lower premiums or free coverage for you and your family.