Insurance Health Group

Group health insurance is much less costly than an individual policy because it spreads the risk over many people with different needs. The more healthy people in the pool, the less the insurer will spend in health care costs and the less the premiums will cost. While most people access group health insurance through their employers, many people don’t have it. Either they are not employed or their employers don’t offer health care.

If you are not employed or if you work for a company that doesn’t offer health insurance you can still get group health care coverage through a membership organization.

How a Membership Organization Works

Membership organizations are groups of people that have an interest or a cause in common. The Screen Actors Guild and the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) are two examples of membership organizations. These groups offer benefits and resources to their members such as discounts on travel, health insurance and auto insurance, and represent them in their profession or try to influence lawmakers in their behalf.

These membership organizations all have requirements for becoming a member and some are very narrow. For instance, AARP doesn’t accept application from anyone under the age of fifty. You can undoubtedly find one, though, that you qualify for and that will allow you to take advantage of group health insurance.

The Best Insurance Choice for You

The ideal way to get group health insurance is through your employer because they usually pay a part of the premium. Some employers pay the full amount but most contribute just a portion. However, there are many people that have lost their jobs recently and don’t have access to employer-provided health insurance. Others have started their own businesses and are self employed now. Still more people are underemployed in jobs that are part time or for companies that don’t offer insurance.

If you don’t have employer provided health insurance you could get an individual policy. You would contact several insurance companies and compare their rates and coverage then purchase a policy from the one that best meets your needs. These policies can be quite costly and may require a medical exam. They often don’t cover pre-existing conditions.

Obtaining group health insurance through a membership organization can save you a lot of money and you’ll often get better coverage than with an individual policy.

Finding a Membership Organization to Join

You may already be part of a membership organization without realizing it. If you union you’ll be able to join their group health insurance. If you earned a college degree you can join that institution’s alumni association; they often offer health insurance and other advantages to their members. Perhaps you belong to a professional association such as your chamber of commerce.
If you are not part of a professional group or society you can still find several that you may qualify for by using an internet search engine. Look for “membership organizations” or “health insurance through membership benefits”. The search phrase is up to you; you may find references in your first set of results that will help you pinpoint better keywords.

You’ll see a lot of groups that you might qualify for. Don’t just confine your search to your profession, however, as there are many membership organizations that could involve your hobby or something else of interest to you. When you do begin finding some that you qualify to join, look at the benefits they offer. If health insurance is one of them, try to find out what kind of coverage it is. Some coverage isn’t worth the price of membership while other organizations offer excellent health insurance with reasonable premiums.
Don’t forget to factor in the membership fee, if there is one. You may be required to pay an annual fee or it could be a monthly addition to your insurance premium, a method used by the National Association for the Self-Employed.

If you are self employed you might want to look into the Small Business Service Bureau or other organizations that target small businesses.