More than 44 million Americans don't have Health Insurance. One major reason is that they can't afford expensive Health Insurance premiums. However, many of them may be eligible for affordable options they are not aware of.

In general, individual Health Insurance is more expensive than group Health Insurance. If you are employed, this may be the best place to start looking for cheaper options. Consult your employer and any labor or employees' associations you are a member of to find out if any group insurance schemes are available. Always check if you are adequately covered by such insurance- health costs are the leading cause of personal bankruptcy in the United States, and you don't want to be caught off guard with inadequate coverage. And know your rights for continued Health Insurance if you leave a job that provides such insurance- you may be eligible for continued coverage for up to 18 months.

You may be 65 years of age or older, a disabled individual younger than 65, or suffering from end-stage kidney disease. If so, you are probably eligible for Medicare, a Health Insurance program administered by the US government. For people who can't afford all or some part of their medical expenses, Medicaid, another government-sponsored pro

gram, may help. Eligibility for Medicaid varies from state to state, but generally covers pregnant women, children and teenagers, and people who are aged, blind or disabled. If you are a woman, you, and your children if you have any, may be eligible for a number of free or discounted government-sponsored health services. If you don't qualify for Health Insurance due to a pre-existing condition, check if you are a resident of one of 30 states that provide Health Insurance cover for a "High Risk Pool” of people like yourself. Many private insurance companies have cheaper Health Insurance plans for members of the military.

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