It’s hard to find low-cost health insurance care coverage, but it is even harder if you have a preexisting medical condition. Every insurance company does whatever they can to make money, and unfortunately, for millions of Americans, this means higher premiums and lower coverage levels if you’ve ever had a serious illness or if you have a condition that requires regular treatment. While a lot of attention has been focused on the now-passed health care bill and its potential benefits for patients with preexisting conditions, the provisions of the bill may take months and even years to take effect (if they take effect at all). As such, if you have got a preexisting condition, it is important to know your rights and how insurance providers work in order to find the lowest health insurance quote possible.

The first thing you need to do is learn as much as possible about health insurance law as it relates to your coverage. Specifically, look into state law, as this can be most helpful for persons with medical problems that require regular treatment and persons who have dealt with serious illnesses. Many states offer a high-risk pool, which can be extremely helpful for people who can’t get insurance via any other means. These programs allow you to find a lower premium, and you can still get adequate coverage, regardless of your medical history. You will still pay more than a health individual, but if you’ve been repeatedly denied coverage, high risk pools can be very helpful.

Look into establishing yourself as a “group,” which is legal in some states. This allows you to get insurance in the same way that companies insure their employees, only you’ll be the only employee. You may have to start a business to get a “group of one” classification, but this doesn’t have to be your main job. Any hobby that you could potentially make money from can put you into this classification, which will make it illegal for insurance companies to deny you coverage due to any illnesses or conditions that you’ve had (or that you currently have).

Collect a number of insurance quotes from as many health insurance providers as possible. This allows you to weigh your options, and by speaking to a health insurance agent or two, you can find out about policy exclusions, coverage levels, and how your premiums might rise or fall throughout the course of a policy. Comparing several insurers is the best way to make sure that you’re getting a fair deal. Regardless of your conditions, you need to do your research–you’ll save money, and you won’t have to go without the coverage you need.