How to Get Free or Low-Cost Health Insurance

Who Qualifies?

If an insurer thinks that you're a risk to cover, they can turn you down. On the other hand, if you're young, healthy, and are not seen as a risk, you might be able to get short-term health insurance.

While it's a lower-cost option, you need to read all the fine print, understand how post-claims underwriting works, and know what the plan does and doesn't cover.

How to Buy a Short-term Plan

There are a few ways to buy a short-term health insurance plan:

Buy a policy directly from a health insurance company.

Use your own insurance agent (if you have one).

Find a health insurance agent or broker through a National Association of Health Underwriters website.

Use a non-governmental private online exchange (such as ehealthinsurance.com).