You hear about the problem every day on the news: this country has a problem with its health care system. We are the richest country on the face of the planet, yet we are unable to provide adequate health care to each and every citizen. The rising cost of health insurance is a primary factor contributing to this problem and it doesn't look like that will improve any time soon. There are some things you can do to try and make health insurance more affordable to you and your family though. Let's look at some of these.

If you work for a small company that doesn't offer health insurance or you are self employed, there are private insurance companies from which you can obtain a policy. Many of them don't even require you to have a physical exam. Most will, however, require you to fill out a detailed health questionnaire. If you are healthy and young, with no pre-existing medical conditions, you can get insurance for somewhere around $100 per month. A quick search online will help you find these companies quickly and easily.

Once you do have health insurance, either through your employer or a private insurance carrier, the next thing you should do is carefully consider what your deductible should be. You may not have a choice on this if you are getting insurance through your employer. Still, if you do have a choice, you can save considerable money on premiums if you choose a higher deductible. You must balance this, however, with the amount of coverage you will need. Whatever you choose, don't go for a deductible higher than $1000, as the insurance won't be worth the money you pay for it at that point.

Another factor that will weigh heavily on the price you pay for insurance is the presence of pre-existing conditions. If you or a member of your family does have a pre-existing condition, your premium is likely to be higher and chances are that you will have some kind of waiting period, usually six months to a year, before the insurance company will cover that condition. Every company has a different policy when it comes to pre-existing conditions, so if this applies to you make sure you find out what the companies position is before purchasing coverage.

As always, it pays to compare quotes from several different companies when considering the purchase of health insurance coverage. You will be amazed at how much difference there is between companies for the same exact coverage. If you don't take the time to find out which company is the most affordable, you could be costing yourself hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars per year. You can do this comparison by searching out companies online, or by contacting them over the phone. Just make sure that you are comparing similar policies when you do this. This means that each policy should include the same coverage, including dental and vision insurance, deductibles, and pre-existing condition clauses.

If your employer offers health insurance benefits, chances are that this will be your most affordable option for coverage. Still, it may pay to do some comparison shopping on this, as there is a possibility that you may find more affordable coverage elsewhere. If they only offer coverage for you, and not your family, it may still be more affordable to take that coverage and obtain separate insurance for your family. The same goes for dental insurance coverage.

Whatever you wind up doing to control the costs of health care for you and your family, don't choose to not get health coverage. The fact is, one major medical emergency can wipe you and your family out financially for years to come. Aside from that, you will find that your access to health care will be severely limited without adequate insurance. Carried to the extreme, lack of health insurance can mean the difference between life and death.