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Finding health insurance isn`t exactly fun (or cheap). These five alternatives to conventional health insurance may help, depending on your needs.

















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The doesn`t seem to be on its way out anytime soon, and it shows in the numbers: In 2018, didn`t have health insurance at any point during the year. It`s not hard to believe, when the keeps creeping up, with the average cost of a family plan . 

With costs at a high and , it`s no wonder that Americans are looking for new ways to pay for healthcare services. This guide explains five alternatives to shopping on the , and how you might be able to save money on healthcare without giving up the benefits you need.  



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Cost-sharing plans

Cost-sharing plans group people together to pool healthcare costs, resulting in lower payments. With a cost-sharing plan, you pay a monthly or annual membership fee. When you go to the doctor, you pay another fee (like a co-pay) and your organization covers the rest of your medical expenses. Cost-sharing groups partner with doctors and hospitals to negotiate rates, and the monthly membership fees often end up being less than traditional insurance premiums. 



Many cost-sharing plans are religious or faith-based and require their members to adhere to certain lifestyle tenets. For example, is a Christian cost-sharing organization with a nationwide network that requires members to \"have a Christian testimony indicating a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.\" Sometimes, these groups won`t cover healthcare costs associated with activities they deem unacceptable, such as treatment for an STD that occurred from an extramarital affair.



But if you qualify for membershi, and .

on Jan 29, 2020 at 3:52pm PST



You might find more affordable insurance by purchasing directly from a broker or insurance provider. Off-exchange insurance companies attempt to make it easier to find health insurance that`s appropriate for specific needs and lifestyles and focus on making the notoriously complex process less mind-boggling -- important because insurance jargon can confuse people into enrolling in plans they don`t need. 



, for example, is a tech-based health insurance startup that offers health insurance to individuals, families and small businesses. The company offers bronze, silver, gold and platinum plans that offer the same benefits but differ in deductible and premium costs -- a bronze plan costs less each month, but you`ll pay more at the time of health services. 



Oscar and most off-exchange plans offer additional benefits you won`t get with a federal plan, such as Oscar`s 24/7 \"doctor-on-call\" feature and the ability to chat with a registered nurse through the Oscar app when you have questions. Other enticing benefits, like Oscar`s step-tracking cash-back partnership with and , make off-exchange programs more appealing. 



If you don`t want to buy insurance on the federal exchange, try an off-exchange broker or provider.

















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, and are other examples of off-exchange health insurance brokers. Off-exchange plans typically meet the requirements of the Affordable Care Act, but always check to make sure before you enroll. 

Professional associations and trade groups

You may be able to find cheaper health insurance plans by joining a group or organization. For example, the offers many insurance benefits for small business owners, entrepreneurs and sole proprietors. 



Many trade groups, professional organizations and alumni associations work similarly to cost-sharing plans: You`re grouped with other members of the organization so your costs are pooled and lowered. Search for professional associations with insurance benefits in your industry -- you might be surprised at the plans and rates you find.



You can also check with to find group plans that meet ACA requirements.



Professional associations may help you save by sharing costs with other members.

















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Health discount cards

Health discount cards are not technically an alternative to insurance: They are for people who plan to pay cash for health services as costs arise. If you loved this article so you would like to receive more info about รูเล็ตออนไลน์ i implore you to visit our own web-site. Also called \"medical services discount cards,\" these can be used for a variety of services at different types of health centers. 



You may pay a one-time membership fee for these cards, or a small monthly fee, but the discounts can be substantial, sometimes upward of 50%. Not all health discount cards have fees, though: is a free health discount program that offers nationwide access to both primary care providers and specialists.



Like traditional insurance plans, health discount cards often have network restrictions, so be sure to check for nearby participating providers before you sign up for a card -- you don`t want to be surprised with a full-price bill. 



Health discount cards are for people who want to pay cash for services when the need for care arises.

















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Telemedicine

Like h and pink eye.  



Most telemedicine apps and websites allow you to choose from video, phone or text to chat with a doctor.

















Teladoc















The takeaway

Health insurance is expensive and a hassle, and many people can`t afford to -- or don`t want to -- enroll in traditional health insurance through the ACA. So, as healthcare costs continue to climb, people have figured out a way to take care of themselves without shopping on the federal exchange. 



Benefits of these insurance alternatives vary and aren`t suited to everyone, but can be viable solutions when traditional health insurance just isn`t an option. Just make sure to read the fine print and understand what you`re getting -- and what you`re not -- when you sign up for an alternative.



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