Looking for affordable health insurance for the sefl employed?

A local independent agent will be your best bet. They know the plans available in your area including any options from the state. They don't charge any extra for the service.

Be very wary of medical discount cards. They are not regulated by the Department of Insurance nor do the people that sell them need to be licensed. This means you have little recourse when you have problems with the plan. If you are tempted by the low price and claims of â€œsave up to 80%â€ be aware that very few doctors actually take these cards. It does you little good if you have to drive 4 hours to find a doctor that will accept the card. Montana couldnâ€™t find any doctors in the whole state that actually took the card and only one dentist who was on probation for unlawful activities so they banned the sale of the card and fined the company. See this link http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/west/2006/11/22/74554.htm for more information. Many other states are starting to ban these cards as well.

Before signing up with any discount plan get a list of doctors. If they wonâ€™t give you a list consider it to be a scam. Call the doctors on the list to make sure theyâ€™re still taking the card (many donâ€™t even know that theyâ€™re listed as a provider) and that theyâ€™re accepting new patients.

Here is a comparison of NASE (Mega) plans with regular major medical insurance:

Mega deductible is per confinement, which means if you go into the hospital 3 times in one year you have 3 deductibles to meet.

Lifetime maximum for Mega is $1 Million. Major medical plans are $2 to $8 Million.
Mega has an annual maximum per illness of $500,000. Most Major medical have NO annual maximums.

Depending upon the policy, Mega will only pay UP to $500 per day if you are admitted to the hospital. Average daily cost - $3000, Average stay â€“ Three days. For the average hospital stay MEGA will pay up to $1500, you will pay $7500.

Depending upon the policy, Mega will only pay UP to $1500 per day if you are in ICU. Average cost - $8000, Average stay â€“ Two days. For the average ICU stay MEGA will pay up to $4500, you will pay $11,500. Since most people (unless theyâ€™re dead) have a hospital stay after the ICU stay you can add in the above figures.

Doctor visits while you are in the hospital is limited to $50 per visit and limited to ONE visit per day. Average cost - $120, Average number of daily visits â€“ TWO. For the average 3 day hospital stay MEGA will pay $150, you will pay $570.

Ambulance transport is limited to $250 per trip and payable only if you are admitted to the hospital. If you are transported to the ER and not admitted - no benefits. The average cost for ambulance - $1000. For the ambulance (if you are admitted to the hospital) MEGA will pay $250, you will pay $750. For the ambulance (if you are NOT admitted to the hospital) MEGA will pay $0, you will pay $1000.

Air ambulance is not covered unless additional rider purchased. Maximum benefits with Mega are $3500. Average cost - $12,000. Your bill - $8500.

Many other limitations for: miscellaneous hospital inpatient charges, inpatient and outpatient surgery, routine physicals, anesthesiologist and more. Plus you have to pay the expensive yearly dues.