If you only need coverage for your children, you may want to take a look at state programs. I live in California , where there are two programs, Medi-Cal (free) and Healthy Families, for those who earn too much to be on Medi-Cal. There are certain rules for each, such as the children having not been covered by insurance from an employer for at least three months, or there may be a limit on the number of families enrolled, so there may be a waiting list. But, if you meet all the qualifications, at least you should be able to get your children protected.

Coverage for yourself or your entire family may be more difficult. One solution is to contact a company which will give you free insurance quotes, such as Insurecom.com. Places such as this offer a range of insurance options, but they themselves are not insurance companies themselves. However, they can save you a tremendous amount of research.

On the other hand, you certainly can do your own research. Companies such as Kaiser and Blue Cross offer plans to individuals that may be affordable. This of course depends on your medical history. If you have health problems, or anyone in your family that you are going to cover has health problems, you may have to pay higher premiums or even be denied coverage. Do be sure to compare numbers, because costs may vary tremendously from company to company. Make sure your deductible is as high as you can afford it to be, so that your monthly costs are lower.

Now, if you just can't get insurance any other way, you may have to go with a health care discount card. This is not insurance. It gives you a preset discount on services from participating doctors, discounts on prescriptions, and so forth. This is offered by companies such as http://www.HealthCare.com.

I will tell you one of my personal favorite things to look for in a plan is access to a free nurse line. If you haven't tried one of these, you will come to love it. A nurse line is a 24-hour phone number you can call to talk to a registered nurse. I love being able to contact a nurse for things as minor as a sinus headache and get good advice on how to cope. These have saved me many unnecessary trips to the doctor.

Individual insurance is far more expensive than what you paid when you were working for a company that provided your insurance, but it is vital that you keep some sort of coverage for the protection of your family. Make sure you do your research, get opinions on any company you are considering. The peace of mind will be worth the cost.

Stephanie Foster is the owner of Home with the Kids, a resource that knows that there's more to staying home with your family than just business. From money saving tips to parenting and marriage tips, to work at home jobs and businesses, you can get information and support here. You can visit the site at http://www.homewiththekids.com.