There are options available that are not considered Qualified Health Plans such as Christian Health Share Ministries, Short-Term Health Insurance plans, and Supplemental Coverages. It is important to remember that because these are not considered Qualified Health Plans they operate very differently. A few ways that they operate differently include the fact that they can exclude for pre-existing conditions, they do not have to cover services such as Preventive Care, Maternity Services, Mental Services, and more, and they can place a Lifetime Maximum of how much they will pay for your medical care. Supplemental Coverages reimburse you based on the service you received and most of those reimbursements are not enough to cover services rendered. It is also important to note that most Christian health share ministries state that their models are not health insurance. Most states do not recognize these entities as health insurance companies which means consumers have little or no legal protection if a claim is not paid or coverage is denied.
Another option is what is called self-pay. This is an uninsured patient who negotiates the cost of their medical care directly with the provider or facility where services are rendered. Oftentimes these services are offered at a discounted rate and set up on a payment plan. Many counties offer Community Health Centers that offer medical services and charge based on a sliding fee scale.