Millions of Americans are uninsured, and for these persons, it can be difficult to find affordable health services. While a basic health insurance plan is fairly affordable, especially if coverage options are carefully managed, there are several ways for uninsured individuals to obtain health services or low cost insurance through federal and state programs. These programs have their drawbacks, but they're certainly a useful way to get essential healthcare without high costs or expensive health insurance premiums.

Federally-funded health care centers are one of the best ways for the uninsured to find health care. These centers charge based on patient income, and for some patients, health care may be extremely inexpensive or even free. There are drawbacks, of course – there is a tremendous amount of demand for low-cost healthcare from federally-funded centers, so wait times can be extraordinary. The severity of a patient's condition can have some bearing on wait times. Getting costly health services from a federally-funded facility can take months. Services like MRIs and other expensive testing is notoriously difficult, as the physicians and experts who run the equipment are under a heavy work load. However, federally-funded centers can be fast and efficient for less specialized health services. Check-ups and basic examinations are affordable and usually don't have untenable wait times, depending on the location of the center and its work load.

Programs like Medicare and Medicaid can also be good options for retired persons, low-income individuals and families. Medicare is a fully federally-funded program, while Medicaid is funded at the federal and state level. Both programs have stringent requirements, however. Medicaid is needs-based; so many applicants may be denied assistance based on income. Medicare is intended for applicants over the age of 65, which makes it a social security program. Disabled individuals can also qualify for Medicare in certain instances. Medicare and Medicaid provide a means of finding health services in the United States and a means of purchasing health insurance at notably discounted rates.

The majority of individuals and families should look into purchasing health insurance policies, as qualifying for government programs can be difficult and obtaining free or low cost health services from a federally-funded facility can be difficult and time-consuming. A health insurance plan with full coverage isn't always necessary, however. Many younger individuals can save money by using a so-called "catastrophic" plan, which covers serious healthcare expenses with a high co-payment. These low cost plans can provide essential protection for individuals who are unlikely to need regular health services. Buyers can also keep their costs low by shopping online and by looking into various types of health insurance plans before making any purchase.