When its time to select a low rate personal health insurance plan, we all know were supposed to shop around. Search for the plan that offers the coverage you need at the price you can afford, right? Right. But there are additional ways to find low rates on health insurance.

Selecting low rate personal health insurance is a breeze when you know how to cut corners. Dont misunderstand; you never want to risk your health to save a few bucks. However, there are ways to cut corners without endangering your care.

Ask yourself the following questions:

How attached am I to my current doctor? A Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) generally has cheaper personal health insurance rates because the doctors, hospitals, and other health care professionals in their networks are contracted. They provide certain kinds of care for a certain amount of money, which means both the HMO and the doctor can afford to charge you low co-pay. Sure, you may have known your current doctor since he was treating you for chicken pox many moons ago, but he may not be included on the list of doctors an HMO provides.

How is my current state of health? If youre in your 20s or 30s, have no children, and have no pre-existing health conditions, consider a personal health insurance plan that covers only catastrophic events. While this does mean youll have to pay for routine visits, you wont have to pay for major injuries caused by a car accident. Purchasing such a major medical play is a great option for young, single folks who may be just entering the work force or going through some temporary financial strain.

Exactly how much can I afford? If you cant afford to pay monthly or yearly premiums for personal health insurance right now, you may want to look into subsidies. Contact the Bureau of Primary Health Care for federal- and state-subsidized health care sites.