The number of Americans without medical insurance was 46.6 million in 2005 according to The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities and that number is continuing to rise! Here are some potential options for people without prescription or medical coverage including free medication discount cards and affordable insurance plans.

Get Free/Discount Drugs

Some drugs can cost $100's of dollars per month, but drug companies have banded together to form The Partnership for Prescription Assistance (PPARX) which currently helps around 4 million people get the brand name drugs that they need. Sure that only puts a small dent in the overall problem, but most people without insurance don't even know that programs like this exist!

Other free prescription discount cards include:

• Together Rx
• Select Benefits
• Pharmacy Rewards

These programs can save you at least 10-65% off your presription drug costs! We also suggest that you look into any state-specific prescription plans at NeedyMeds.com where you can find more information on reducing healthcare costs.

Shop Around

Other actions taken by pharmacies include the $4 generic presciption drugs initiated by Walmart, 7 free antibiotics at Publix stores, and a $20 per year discount card from Walgreens for brand, generic, and nonprescription drugs.

One more place to check is Drugstore.com considering that they can pass the low cost of running an online business to their customers and you can easily check drug prices online.

What About Cheap Medical Coverage?

You may be able to get reasonable medical coverage if you have lost your job or if your company does not provide benefits through the 2 organizations listed below. COBRA is usually far too expensive and you can probably find comparable coverage at a huge savings by comparing quotes online.

I have personally used eHealthInsurance and was able to compare quite a few insurance plans to find a good deal. Health Insurance Search is another promising option, but they are relatively new.

Both of these companies are health insurance brokers that will provide you with quotes from a wide variety of major corporations such as Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, and United Healthcare. You could even opt for catastrophic coverage, which is very inexpensive and will prevent your life saving from being wiped out in case of a major medical problem like cancer or a broken leg.

The System Isn't Perfect

Our healthcare system isn't perfect, but there are more options out there than most people are aware of. You owe it to yourself, your family, and your wallet to look into these programs, especially the free discount drug program mentioned earlier. I hope that this info will help alleviate some of your financial burden and wish you a healthy future.

Sincerely,

The Net Analyst

ehealthinsurance.com is the leading online source of both permanent and temporary health insurance for individuals, families, and small businesses! They offer coverage from over 160 different major insurance companies with the lowest industry pricing.

This is the best place anywhere to check out insurance plans and they let you view quotes, compare plans side-by-side, and apply online. You could search the plans, sign up, and have coverage in less 30 minutes. We all know what a pain insurance can be, but ehealthinsurance.com has streamlined the whole process!

Health Insurance Search offers you plans with some of the top rated Major Medical Insurance companies in America like Assurant, United Healthcare, and Humana. Their mission is to make it as easy as possible for you to get the coverage you need. Just fill out the simple 3 step application or call one of their representatives for a free, no obligation quote.

They work just like eHealthinsurance and may have landed some different deals or negotiated different coverage for their plans. It's probably a good idea to check out both companies to see who has the best package for you individual circumstances.