People who are working get their health insurance from their employers. They are eligible for the special rates available for groups. Even if you do not have an employer that can give you group insurance, however, you can join membership organizations to benefit from these special rates.
What is a membership organization?
It is an organization that offers special resources to people who are interested in a particular cause. The Writer Guild is one such group. One of the many benefits it gives its professional writer- members is health coverage. Other membership organizations include the Small Busines Service Bureau, National Association for the Self-Employed and the National Association of Female Executives among others.
Why not individual insurance?
If you were working, your employer would be paying part of the premium and there would not be any health exam necessary. If you are self-employed, you may be tempted to opt to buy a personal health policy directly from an insurance company.
But the premiums may be costly, you will have to take a medical exam and may find that you don’t meet all the requirements of a plan. In such a case, going through a membership organization may be the best route for you.
In such organizations, the risk is spread across the members, so premiums are low. You will also have better access to information. You may still have to take a medical exam, and may not meet the requirements, but you should only give up this option once you have had a thorough look at it.
How to find medical insurance through membership organizations
First, think about the groups you are already in. Have you joined any unions or are you a member of an alumni association? Have you joined the local chamber of commerce? If you are, well and good. If not, search the internet. Choose some that interest you, or one that is relevant to your profession. Read the benefits section. Is insurance offered? Is there an annual membership fee? Are the insurance rates lower than individual insurance rates you have looked at? Rates vary from organization to organization.
If you are self-employed, then you should look at a few membership organizations that offer group health insurance. California has numerous such organizations that offer their members numerous benefits and discounts. Do some research and you are sure to find something that suits your budget and needs.
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