In New York: Best health insurance on the cheap?

-This information is for my stepdaughter and her family.

After long term unemployment her husband recently went back to work as a trucker.

He might bring home around $500 per week.

They presently have no health insurance, although she said a New York State program

would cover her two younger children.

This leaves her and husband uninsured because his new job has no health coverage.

Somehow she found a company willing to insure them for around $200+ a month.

What this insurance covers I do not know. (By the premiums, I don't think much)



The problem is they don't have much more than the $200+ to pay per month.

Can someone tell me how to find(in New York) legitimate insurance companies with affordable

cost?

Also how can I educate myself on health insurance, the details, so that I can advise them correctly?

They're in their late 30s and in reasonably in good health.



Any an all advice greatly appreciated

TonyLook into Family Health Plus, Medicaid and/or Child Health Plus. Sliding scale of costs based on family size and income. Go to fideliscare.org. Great company, very reputable service. You'll have to sign up through an insurance company to get any of these plans (they're not issued directly by NYS - sorta like buying a car from a dealer, not from the factory) and they'll explain ALL options to you. They even pay YOU to get exams (like mamograms). You're smart to be sure they're all insured. Good luck!
I am sorry to say that affordable cost and health insurance do not go hand in hand.



That $200/month policy might not be legitimate, you have to compare coverages and not just cost.



This can be a very difficult process and you need to do some serious research, which it sounds like you are ready to do. The following is a link for the NY State Consumer guide for health insurance. It is not sponsored by any company, rather provided by the state to help consumers understand their options.



http://www.ins.state.ny.us/consumer/heal鈥?/a>



Good Luck Tony.
In New York State, it is illegal for the insurance company to offer someone in their late 30's in reasonably good health a lower price than the company charges a person in their 50's or in bad health in the same part of the state. NY law requires insurance companies to charge everyone from age 19 to age 64 the exact same price, to the penny.



The law does not allow an insurance company to offer anyone affordable or cheap insurance, unless the company also offers it to everyone else who lives in the same part of the state.



Because of this law, no insurance company can offer anyone affordable or cheap insurance.



The only two ways to get health insurance without paying over $200 per month are:

a) Move to another state that, unlike NY, allows insurance companies to charge lower prices for those who are in good health, or

b) Enroll in a government-run program that offers health insurance for free or for less than insurance companies normally charge.



Two examples of programs to consider are:



1) HealthNY

This program is for those who work and cannot afford what health insurance normally costs in NY. However, it is not cheap, and it might actually be more than the $200+ figure that you mentioned.



2) Medicaid

This costs approximately $1000 per month, but the government pays for it, so it costs you nothing. However, $500 per week is probably too much income to be able to qualify.



In the end, it really comes down to that if you cannot afford to spend at least $400 per month on health insurance and health care, then you cannot afford to leave in NY.