Health costs are increasing faster than inflation, and unexpected health emergencies can easily wipe out a family's savings. Most people rely on employer group medical or health insurance to ease the burden of medical costs. Because of rising health care costs, however, many employers are shifting some of the cost to their employees by requiring co-payments and higher deductibles. Some employers are adopting managed care plans which may require higher out-of-pocket costs if you choose a doctor outside the selection your plan offers. Many people find that an employer-sponsored Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) will cut their health care costs, although doctor selection is limited.

If your spouse is employed, check for the possibility of being covered on your spouse's group health insurance. See if and when your spouse could add family coverage through his employer. Many employers or other groups have limited open enrollment periods. If you and your spouse are both working, you may be paying for duplicate coverage. In this case, you may want to choose the best, least expensive plan and cancel the other.

Check to see that your policy has a stop-loss provision that limits the amount you must co-pay per year. For example, a stop-loss of $1,500 means that after you have paid $1,500, the insurance company will pay 100 percent of the expenses up to the lifetime limit.

If you are between jobs or no longer working and need health insurance, you may wish to take out a short-term or interim policy that is typically written for six months or less. Under a federal law, the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (COBRA), group health insurance plans sponsored by employers with 20 or more employees are required to offer continuation of coverage for you and your dependents for 18 months.

Under the same law, following an employee's death or divorce, the worker's family has the right to continue coverage for up to three years. You will have to pay the entire premium.

If COBRA does not apply in your case, you may be able to convert your group policy to individual coverage. Contact your employer and the insurance company for your options. An advantage of converting policies is that you may not have to pass a medical exam. A disadvantage is that benefits may be reduced, and premiums will probably be higher. Unfortunately, after age 40, it becomes increasingly difficult and expensive to get health insurance.

Investigate buying insurance through another group such as a fraternal or civic organization, professional association, or health maintenance organization. Group coverage is almost always cheaper than coverage by individual policies.

If individual coverage is the only alternative, compare several policies for the best coverage. Individual health insurance is very expensive. Generally, it is wiser to choose a large deductible in order to lower premium costs. It is better to self-insure against routine medical expenses and buy major medical insurance to cover unexpected, costly illnesses or emergencies. Avoid purchasing single-disease policies or overlapping coverage. If you are unable to buy insurance due to your health status, call your state Department of Insurance for information on the Comprehensive Health Insurance Plan (CHIP).

If you don't have health insurance or can no longer pay the premiums for health insurance, there are limited health services for the elderly, disabled, children, and pregnant women. Check with your county public health department to learn about health care programs provided at little or no cost. These may include immunization programs, well-baby clinics, blood pressure checks, and other screenings.