One of the scariest things about losing a job is enduring a period of time without health insurance coverage.  Even if you are offered COBRA by a former employer, the cost is usually out of reach; so many Americans try to go without health insurance until they get another job.  Unfortunately, illness can strike at any time, and it doesn’t take long for medical bills to become unmanageable.  That’s why it is so important to purchase a temporary health insurance plan.

As baby boomers reach retirement age, the number of people enrolled in the nation’s Medicare program is reaching record numbers.  While Medicare will cover some of the health care expenses for eligible seniors, most of Arizona’s older residents will need to enroll in some form of supplemental insurance.   With so many different plan choices and enrollment deadlines, eligible citizens are often confused about Medicare Supplemental Insurance in Arizona. 

It is sad to think about how many more people would be able to start their own business and create new jobs in this country if they didn’t have to worry about the cost of individual health insurance.  Individual health insurance for self employed individuals is often cost-prohibitive, especially for people with a pre-existing health condition, or those who need to insure their entire family.  Fortunately, entrepreneurs will be able to get some relief in the form of a new tax deduction that starts in the 2010 tax year. 

 The commonly held belief, that health insurance for the self-employed has to be expensive, is not entirely true.  Sure, if you are shopping for low co-pay/low-deductible plans, they can cost  more than a group plan.  But, there are some ways to make health insurance less expensive for the self-employed.

Below are three ways that Arizonans have been successful in getting affordable health insurance for the self-employed.

Pay your high deductibles with the money saved in a tax-deferred HSA.  An HSA stands for Health Savings Account, and an Arizona health insurance broker can help you find a compatible health plan. With this type of plan, you contribute tax-deferred money to an interest-earning HSA account, which will issue you a debit card or checks just like a regular bank account.  You then use the funds you save in the account to pay for high deductibles, co-pays or co-insurance, as well as other approved health-related expenses. 

 If you are a resident of Arizona who is approaching age 65, it is important that you thoroughly understand how Medicare insurance works.  Many retirees are confused about the timing and requirements for Medicare and don’t know whether they qualify for Medicare supplemental insurance in Arizona. 

Also known as a “Medigap” policy, Medicare supplemental insurance helps Arizona citizens close the “gaps” in Medicare by providing for deductibles and coinsurance.  However, there are certain time-sensitive purchasing qualifications that exist in Arizona. 

For example, once a Medicare recipient reaches the age of 65 and joins Part B, they can sign up for a Medigap policy within three months of their 65^th birthday.  This is known as Medigap open enrollment.  If seniors enroll during this period, they cannot be denied coverage for a pre-existing condition, nor can they be placed on a waiting list. 

With the Arizona unemployment rate currently at 9.3%, health insurance brokers in the Grand Canyon state have spent a lot of time helping newly unemployed clients determine the best choice for their health insurance coverage – COBRA or temporary health insurance. 

Are you recently unemployed and looking for an insurance policy that is affordable?  It may seem easier to pay for COBRA, since it doesn’t require a change in policies, but this is usually the most expensive option. 

There are some obvious differences between the two, but it is important to make an educated decision because the type of plan you choose could have a serious impact on your financial future.  The best way to figure out which temporary health insurance plans will best meet your needs is to have an Arizona health insurance broker pull some quotes for you.  Not only will this save an enormous amount of time and money, but a good broker will know enough about the plans to make sure you buy the right one. 

Are you in between jobs, or waiting for a new health insurance policy to take effect?  If so, then you may find yourself in the market for short-term Arizona health insurance policy.  For many Arizonans, the prospect of buying an individual policy – even for a short time - may seem impossible; especially if you are living on a limited budget. But the truth is that most Arizona health insurance companies offer affordable options for temporary health insurance. 

Larger companies like Assurant, United HealthCare and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona’s IHC offer an affordable temporary health plan.  These AZ health plans can be paid for on a monthly basis and kept active for six to twelve months.  Surprisingly, the rates for these plans are a lot lower than long term Arizona health insurance, and they can take effect on the same day the plan is purchased. 

Whether you are searching for group health insurance, an individual health plan, or a temporary medical policy, it is possible to find affordable Arizona health insurance. Without any help, however, finding an affordable plan can be a daunting task. That’s why so many Arizona families choose to work with a local health insurance broker.  One of the most efficient ways to find affordable Arizona health insurance is by asking an experienced health insurance broker to share their expertise. When a broker does the legwork for you, it is possible to get a range of affordable quotes in just minutes.

As a health insurance broker in Arizona, I am often asked how the recent Health Care Reform laws will affect the residents of this state and their ability to find affordable coverage. While the provisions of the law are long overdue, I like to remind people that the reform package is being enacted in “stages.” This means the whole law will not be in effect until the year 2014.

Some parts of Health Care reform are already in place, such as the law prohibiting insurers from denying children health insurance due to a pre-existing condition. Another portion of the law, which took effect in September, is the ability to keep a son or daughter on their parent’s health plan until they reach the age of 26. But the “meat” of the bill will take a few more years to be fully implemented.

There are currently 1.3 million Arizona residents without health insurance and over 280,000 who are self-insured. For these people, Health Care Reform will allow them to get affordable coverage through a more competitive “health insurance exchange.”