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Since most major industrialized nations in the world offer national health insurance coverage, this guide is basically geared to Americans who continue to be challenged by the high cost of health care.

Fact is, the leading cause of personal bankruptcy in the U.S. is not high credit card debt, but the enormous burden of medical bills that families and individuals face when they become ill or hospitalized.

Nationwide, companies large and small are suffering under the weight of paying exorbitantly priced employee benefits, and some are asking workers to foot the bill in its entirety or face layoffs. Presently, approximately a third of all Americans are presently without any health insurance coverage whatsoever, or have experienced gaps in coverage between layoffs as the economy slows.

Cheap, (Relatively) Affordable Health Insurance

Faced with layoffs, outsourcing, or the threat of company mergers, more workers and even some professionals are considering long-term freelancing or self-employment as an alternative. The good news is that freelancing unions, (check out this one for New York state residents) or associations for the self-employed now offer affordable individual or family health insurance plans that have helped many people make the leap into the ranks of small business ownership.

Shop Around, Shop Around, Shop Around

Or, have a professional insurance agent do it for you. Find one in your area, let them know your financial status and what you are prepared to pay. You'll know soon enough if the agent is connected to resources tailored to your needs, or if they have discovered a health insurance plan you've already rejected. If so, don't give up. As with any service, it pays to shop around.

Health Insurance Risk Pools

Begun in Connecticut several decades ago, risk pools are now being offered by 33 states nationwide offering state-subsidized health insurance plans to low-to-middle income families, the self-employed, the unemployed, disabled, or the chronically ill. Depending on the amount of state funding available, some of these plans are comprehensive while others offer only basic coverage. Again, depending on where you live, requirements may be stringent. But it wouldn't hurt to see if you or your family qualify.

Short Term Health Insurance

After experiencing sticker shock from the high cost of typical COBRA plans, those who are temporarily out of work are often happy to find insurance companies offering low cost, high coverage plans for the short term. Commonly, these plans do not require a look at any preexisting health conditions, and premiums are paid monthly and can be dropped at any time. If your future job prospects are good, stop-gap health coverage may be the way to go.

Elsewhere on the Web

Keep digging ...

Checkup on Health Insurance Choices - Get educated on what's out there and what you can afford with information on costs and coverage offered by HMO's, PPO's, long-term care plans, and more with a related checklist, glossary of terms.

Health Insurance Resource Guide - Excellent guide to available health insurance resources for freelancers, and the self-employed, from Crafters Report.

NAHU Consumer Guides - Tips and facts on individual and group plans, long-term care coverage, health care savings accounts, high risk pools and Medicare.

MedlinePlus - Health Insurance - The latest news headlines, research, legislation & statistics with links to information on who pays what, typical costs, and information focused on health insurance coverage for children, the mentally ill and the disabled.

Health Insurance Risk Pools - We're All in This Together

Below, links to more information on 33 U.S. state risk pool coverage plans - sometimes referred to as CHIP (Comprehensive Health Insurance Plans) - that offer cheap health insurance to working class families, the self-employed, unemployed, the disabled or those with chronic illnesses:

Also see related articles -> Health Insurance - It's the Price, Stupid

Health Insurance 101 | Insurance for the Self Employed

Also see -> Disability Insurance | Social Security