How do I get health insurance?

Ok Im 20 and I don't think I have health insurance. I want insurance to cover basic health and dental too. How can I get health insurance that is cheap and affordable in California? Thank you
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You need a trusted adviser to help you through the process of purchasing health insurance so that you understand what you are purchasing. Understanding what you are buying is as important as the price. An agent can give you the knowledge you need so that you can decide what the right balance is between affordability and policy benefits. If you choose a plan that covers everything i.e. doctors office visits, prescription drugs, preventative health benefits, maternity coverage as well as low deductibles, low co-pays and optional vision and dental benefits your monthly premiums will be significant. On the other hand because you are young, presumably healthy and probably don't often use the health care system you might consider a plan that covers only the major health catastrophe. In this type of plan the insurance company does not pay benefits until you first reach a significant out of pocket cost (this is a deductible). Ask the agent if an HSA works for you. If you'd rather have more comprehensive individual health insurance coverage, such as preventive care coverage, consider a PPO or HMO plan with a lower deductible. Consider higher co-pays for doctor's office visits and perhaps not cover prescription drugs. Either of these approaches will result in a lower monthly premium. You then can use the monthly premium savings to pay for the occasional doctor visit or prescription and still come out ahead. Check with the agent that writes your other insurance or perhaps your parent's agent he/she can provide you a health insurance proposal that takes into account your budget and health status. They can answer questions as to what is and is not covered by the policy, explain deductibles and co-pays and show you the hospitals and doctors that participate in the network. (Networks in PPO and HMO plans are very important considerations). Some are going to suggest you go to their web site so that they earn a few pennies on a "click through". Some may suggest going on line to get a quote but you probably know there is much more to choosing the right health insurance than price. Use the Internet to educate yourself but use an agent to purchase the coverage.
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