Its almost impossible to find affordable California health insurance today. In reality, the real number of uninsured Californians at present has become quite huge (over six million people, in fact), and it's continuously increasing because of 2008's financial meltdown. Quite a lot of corporations have been downsizing their staff, and many ex-employees have thusly lost their health insurance coverage as a consequence. Additionally, a multitude of employers have eliminated or scaled back certain health insurance benefits for the sake of saving more capital.

California Health Insurance Plans for Individuals

A lot of terminated employees have the option to avail of COBRA extensions; however, not all of these hapless individuals can qualify, and many of those who meet the criteria couldn't afford the premiums set by this particular policy anyway. At any rate, it's best for people to remember that COBRA isn't a health insurance company, but is instead a federal law institution that compels several businesses to provide group benefits to former workers for a couple of months or longer. COBRA coverage isn't free; it's not exactly affordable, either.

To be sure, many compensated ex-employees tend to balk at the bill provided by this federally backed edict of sorts. Even though the majority of Californian companies shoulder a large amount of the premium, there are times when the recently laid off worker is forced to pay the entire amount. Obviously, acquiring another bill to pay just to stay insured after being laid off can serve as a crippling load for those who've just recently become unemployed. All the same, the following items below can serve as their value-addled options for California health insurance in the meantime:

Private Insurance Companies: California has a humongous and active private major medical market wherein insurance applicants could purchase either a family or individual policy. Then again, Californian companies are permitted to underwrite every individual applicant if they choose to do so, which means that people can be rated up or declined at a corporation's behest.

There are also cases wherein an insurer may extend coverage in exchange for the right to exclude any preexisting conditions for a number of months. By law, prior coverage can be used to mitigate this particular rule. In any case, about eight percent of Californians own their own insurance; private health insurance is actually quite commonplace in the state. For an affordable family health insurance plan, a private plan may be the best and most cost-effective choice.

Medical and Health Families: Low income people and families within California may choose to get some public health insurance options. However, it's only fair to warn would-be applicants that the income limits of such a policy for adults are quite strict and severe. In contrast, the California children's health insurance program (which also covers pregnant women) has higher income limits, which is perfect for lower to middle class family units. A number of private insurers decline coverage for pregnant women, so this is the perfect type of coverage for expecting mothers.

California High Risk Health Pool: Every last state within the United States has some sort of program for uninsurables-California included. While there are states that would rather implement guaranteed acceptance plans, California would rather mandate a risk pool. State rules for the Californian risk pool is quite stringent and austere, but premiums are required to be no more than one hundred twenty-five percent of standard rates.