As we approach the end of another year, now is a good time to take a close look at household expenses to see if there are places you can cut back and save. If you’re like most people, one of your biggest areas of concern is what you’re paying for health insurance.

As health and medical costs continue to rise, many companies are either passing increased expenses along to their employees, cutting back on benefits or eliminating coverage altogether. According to the U.S. Census, in 2005, 46 million Americans were uninsured. A recent survey found that 64 percent of Americans decided to go without coverage because health insurance is just too expensive.

Realizing there’s been a significant shift in the industry due to added cost, many insurance companies are now offering affordable policies with great coverage that individuals and families can buy on their own. Among the most popular self-insured products available:

* Managed care plans — these types of policies keep costs down by requiring patients to stick to a network of doctors who have agreed to accept reduced fees for care. Patients select a primary care physician, whom they see exclusively, and must consult with that caregiver for referral to a specialist.

* Low risk indemnity plans — these plans do not cover preventative care, just the costs incurred through hospitalization for major illness or injury. A medical discount card can be useful in conjunction with this type of coverage.

* Heath Savigs Accounts (HSA) — with current HSA programs, you swap your previous health insurance plan for a specific, high deductible plan of your choice — which then operates through a separate, tax-free savings account. You and your employer deposit money into your tax-sheltered account and, as it builds in value, its monies become available to cover health expenses as you see fit. Much like Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs), these plans are managed by custodial banks.

* Student health insurance — to save money, many students are tempted to turn to the on-campus medical clinic any time they need to see a doctor. But if there’s anything wrong beyond the common cold, college or university clinics may not be able to help. Parents can now purchase a short-term policy for their college-aged kids that provides much better coverage and ensures their students get the care they need.

Hundreds of insurance companies now offer these and other types of low-cost health plans to help make sure you get insured as cheaply as possible. So how do you go about finding the company that has the right policy for you?

Online services like Estreetloans.com make it easy. By filling out one quick and easy application, you can get quotes from multiple insurance companies all at once — in a matter of minutes — through the company’s vast agent network.

If you’re looking for high quality, low cost health insurance, this is a great way to find it. Just click here and offer some basic, health-related information in the form provided, Within 24-48 hours, you’ll hear from a handful of agents in your area who can give you the quotes you need. There is no obligation on your part — just the opportunity to save big on medical insurance.

Log on to www.estreetloans.com for a free health insurance quote.

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