When you’re shopping around for government health insurance, it’s hard to know how much you should expect to pay each month.
The cost of government health insurance programs varies from state to state and depends on your income, family size, age, and where you live.
Meanwhile, many people are surprised to find out that it can be quite affordable in many cases, even if you don’t qualify for any financial assistance.
Below are few ways to get the best and low-cost health insurance in 2023:
Choose a Government-run Health Insurance Plan
One of the easiest ways to get a low-cost health insurance is to choose a government-run health insurance plan. There are currently 12 different government-run health insurance plans available to Americans.
Some of these plans are available on a national level, while others only cover specific areas.
Additionally, each plan has its own particular requirements, and there are some differences between a public option and traditional health insurance coverage.
As such, it’s important to know what’s covered under your plan before you enroll.
Compare Different Health Insurance Plans
Before enrolling in a government plan, it’s important to consider your options.
Most people have employer-sponsored health insurance, and there’s nothing wrong with keeping what you have, but you might find that government plans offer better coverage at similar or lower cost.
In order to make an informed decision, take a look at what’s available and decide if there are more affordable options elsewhere.
Remember, you can keep your private plan as well as adding a new one.
More information on how to do that is below in How To Enroll in Affordable Care Act Coverage: 2 Options for Individuals & Families.
Tax Credits
While Medicare only partially covers health costs, some people qualify for a tax credit that helps cover premiums and out-of-pocket expenses.
The exact amount you get will depend on your income level and other factors, but it can be substantial.
If you find yourself struggling to pay for private health insurance, take a look at whether or not you’re eligible for a government subsidy first.
You might also qualify for Medicaid if your state expanded coverage.
Out-of-Pocket Costs
Affordable Care Act plans are less expensive than employer-sponsored coverage.
And, if you qualify for cost-sharing reductions (discussed below), your plan might be free or almost free.
However, since ACA plans can’t deny you coverage or charge you more because of pre-existing conditions, they do require paying a portion of medical bills each year.
This can mean high deductibles and copays, but there are ways to keep costs in check
Special Enrollment Periods
If you’re not getting coverage through work, government health insurance may be an option for you.
For example, Medicaid offers low-cost health care to certain individuals who can’t get coverage otherwise, such as pregnant women and parents with young children.
Many of these plans offer a high level of benefits that are more comprehensive than individual plans.
If you’re thinking about signing up for Medicaid in your state, it’s a good idea to educate yourself on what it entails; while enrollment is often year-round, you might have limited time to sign up during special enrollment periods.
For example, many states allow citizens who become ineligible for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) to opt into Medicaid as long as they apply within 60 days of losing eligibility.
Deductibles and Coinsurance
These two words can be confusing to someone who has never purchased their own health insurance before.
Here is a simple breakdown of how deductibles and coinsurance work.
When you sign up for your employer’s health insurance plan, or if you are on Medicaid, Medicare, or any other type of government-funded healthcare program (like CHIP), you will pay some level of premium each month.
In return for that monthly payment, your insurance provider agrees to pay a portion of your medical bills every time you go to see a doctor or fill a prescription at a pharmacy.
The exact percentage that you pay depends on what kind of plan you have chosen.
Sources of Additional Information
In order to figure out how much government health insurance costs, you will have to do some research.
Your local Department of Human Services (DHS) office should be able to provide you with free information on Medicare, Medicaid and private insurance plans available in your area.
If you are eligible for state or federal programs, you should try and figure out which one would work best for your family situation.
For example, some healthcare plans cover pregnancy while others don’t, so if that’s a concern make sure you take that into account when evaluating different options.
Also be sure to check if there are specific providers that are covered by your plan—this could have a significant impact on your financial health depending on where you live and what services are available in your area.
How Much Does Health Insurance Cost Per Month?
You’ll want to consider your health plan’s premium, as well as any other fees they charge (deductibles, co-pays and so on).
Once you know what your costs will be, you can plan a budget based on how much money you want to spend per month.
If you need a policy for yourself only, you may be able to find coverage for around $200 per month if you purchase a Silver plan in your state.
If you have children and are looking for family coverage through government-sponsored plans like Medicaid or SCHIP, that might cost $100 – $200 more.
For example, in California most of the government plans require a monthly contribution of about $300 – $350 per family member.
Average Health Insurance cost for Married Couple 2023
The Affordable Care Act of 2010 (ACA) established health insurance exchanges, also known as marketplaces.
These exchanges require every US citizen and legal resident to have health insurance that meets a minimum standard or pay a fine.
Those with an income above 100% of poverty level who don’t get health coverage through their employer can obtain private insurance plans via these government-run exchanges.
Once you meet your annual deadline for enrolling in an exchange plan, you may use your new coverage any time within 12 months; some plans are effective right away.
However, depending on your income, yearly premiums and deductibles will be higher than if you had gotten covered earlier during open enrollment season in November/December each year.
Cost of Health Insurance Cost Without a Job?
It can be difficult to estimate health insurance costs without a job, but it’s worth doing a quick calculation to get an idea of what you might pay for your health insurance once you are on your own.
In general, those who are self-employed or unemployed will find they have more options with their healthcare coverage than those who do not work; many companies only offer health plans to employees, so if you’re not employed at a company, finding your own plan may take some research.
But taking these first steps is worthwhile because it will help you determine whether there is even enough money left over each month to pay for health insurance—especially since in some cases, even basic plans could cost as much as $50 per month.