Most Americans get their health insurance through their employers' health plans. But according to various government and industry estimates, approximately 45 million Americans have no health insurance. The reason, for many, is they can't afford the costs of health insurance premiums.

Sad, but true ... and very scary .... and UNFORGIVABLE.

We hear from people who are either self-employed, running small companies, out of work, or even working for small companies or non-profits that require employees to pay most of the policy premiums–and their biggest expense is often health insurance. Some of these people are domestic partners, gay or straight, and can't get coverage through their employed partner's company.

The cost of health insurance in the United States is a national scandal. Be outraged; be very outraged. Write to your senators and congressional representative.

While we can't solve the health care problem, we can help you cover your health insurance needs if you're out of the employment loop and fending for yourself.

Dolan Smart Money Move: Don't take chances with health insurance. Ever! No matter how young and healthy you may be, you never know when you might suddenly find yourself in a hospital, faced with the costs of a major medical condition. (Accidents do happen.) In that case, you could find that you'll have to wipe out most of your savings or other assets to pay the costs.

OK, now that we've got that squared away, here are some different ways you can cover your health care needs and not clean out your savings in the process.

If You're Out of Work or Self-Employed:

Consider a professional association. Many offer group health insurance for members who are not presently employed or are self-employed. Another option is the National Association of the Self-Employed, which you can find online at www.nase.org. Membership is available in two different tiers that cost $120 a year for "Access" level or $480 a year for "Premier" level, but benefits for all categories include the opportunity to buy health insurance at an additional charge.

The costs vary greatly, depending on your state and how many family members you have to insure. Since the NASE only administers the policies, rules governing whether you can insure an unmarried partner will depend on your state and the policy available there.

If you're self-employed, showing a profit on your federal tax return, and paying for health insurance, you can take a deduction from your gross income. Talk with your tax advisor about your specific situation. Another resource is www.insweb.com, which has information about small business insurance, including group health insurance for businesses employing two to 99 people.

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