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There is also a membership discount store in my town called Sam's Club. It's like a Costco or Fedco. They offer a dental discount program. It's not insurance, but for about $70 a year I can become a member. I get a discount card that I can take to participating dentists, and get their services for a discount. The only drawback is that most of
dentists in program are in large cities. Be sure to check this out before you join to be sure your dentist is part of program.
There are ways to get medical care that is free or inexpensive without using insurance. In my town, there is a health clinic that has a sliding scale based on income. There's also a dental school in town that has very inexpensive rates if you let students work on you. I know people that drive for over an hour to use this facility and they think it's wonderful.
In Arizona, there is also AHCCCS Program (Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System) which offers low cost insurance for low-income households with an annual income of up to $18,000. Check with your state to see if it has a program like this.
Consider an option that requires no insurance. Put money into a bank account. I know of one person who put $2,000 into a bank account before starting her own business. The money would be used for any medical expenses. Over next two years, she put another $8,000 into account. So far, this has taken care of all medical problems that have arisen for her family of four. If you want even more security, you could set up a savings account, and have catastrophic insurance coverage with a high deductible. Just decide what you are comfortable with. I usually go with minimal coverage because I have virtually no health problems. I'm in my late forties, and in past twelve years I have only gone to a doctor once and I take no medication. The only recurring health problem I have is getting new glasses every five years or so, and having occasional filling. I've always been very healthy and I don't see this changing any time soon.
One last note about insurance. If you are going to have clients coming to your home, you should look into liability insurance with medical reimbursement coverage. I had this several years ago when I ran a photography studio out of my house. Fortunately, I never had to use it, but I did come close one day. A woman came in for a portrait and brought her friend, who also had a one-month-old baby. As we were getting ready, I told mother that she and her baby could sit in a chair across room. I pointed out a very bright orange extension cord and told her to be careful. She looked at cord and said she would be. She then proceeded across room and tripped on cord. Visions of her falling on top of her baby flashed through my head before she caught her balance. Everyone was fine, but I was very glad that I had insurance, just in case.
What you need to do, as a self-employed person seeking health insurance, is to be creative and look everywhere. Contact every club, credit card and organization you belong to, and don't forget college you graduated from. Call your city and state government to see what programs they offer too. Use that same creativity that keeps your business successful to find all your options, and then select one that's best for you. Be sure to read fine print so you know what is, and isn't, covered by a plan before you join.
http://www.CreativeCauldron.com Jeff Colburn is a freelance writer who specializes in websites, newsletters, poetry and genre fiction. His books, "The Writer's Dictionary Of Science Fiction, Fantasy, Horror and Mythology" and "The Youngest Ninja," can be purchased from his site, www.CreativeCauldron.com. The Creative Cauldron is a site filled with information for writers, photographers, artists and other creative people.
