Reasonable Health Insurance

With health insurance on the rise, and the staggering number of employees suffering from illnesses such as diabetes and heart disease, it is difficult for employers to provide affordable benefits to employees. Small employers typically do not provide any health benefits for employees because it is simply too expensive. I once worked for a company with 40 employees. Because we had two employees with serious health conditions, my monthly premium for a family of four was $1,500. Seriously - who can afford this???

In doing my own research for affordable health plans, I have found that there are so many options available to small businesses and the self-employed. Now that my children are older, it is rare that they visit a physician for ear infections, or other childhood illnesses. They have however, been treated for broken arms, dog bites to the face and other serious accidents.

Most families, especially single-parent families, cannot afford health insurance for themselves, much less their children. If you are one of the employees lucky enough to have a large employer who offers insurance to you and/or your family at a reasonable rate, congratulations. If you are not one of the lucky few, my suggestion is to simply purchase catastrophic insurance. This is like buying car insurance you know you'll probably never need, yet in the unlucky event that something should happen, you have it for your peace of mind.

One company that carries a wide variety of insurance packages is Blue Cross Blue Shield, http://www.bluecross.com. Simply enter your zip code and follow the instructions. Aetna, http://www.aetna.com is another great company that has many different packages to choose from.

I believe the money spent on monthly insurance premiums could be saved or better spent elsewhere. In my own case, I paid $500 per month out of my pocket for about ten years and visited the doctor only a handful of times. I am in no way advocating not having insurance. It is an absolute necessity in the event of an accident or terminal illness. I am merely suggesting that you take your finances into your own hands.

At a minimum, do the research. Look at every option available whether you are a person who is self-employed, or you are a small business owner who would like to provide benefits to your employees but simply cannot afford it. I know most employees would appreciate having some options. Every little bit counts and your employees are worth it!