If you’re self-employed, you can think of health insurance as a luxury. When you’re barely making ends meet, paying several hundred dollars a month for something you may not need is not a priority. Or maybe you can’t find a health insurance company to insure you because of a pre-existing condition. If you don’t have health insurance, trust that you won’t get sick. But if you do, your business suffers.

If you can’t get individual health insurance, or if the premiums are outside the scope of an individual policy, there are several ways to get cheap and discounted health insurance and healthcare.

Look for state subsidized programs

Many states offer discount premiums for low-income families and self-employed business owners. Others have established ‘risk pools’ that lower your health care costs by spreading the risk among a ‘pool’ of people, just like employers do with group plans.

Check with your state Health and Human Services office to see what health insurance discounts may be available to you based on your income. In most states, income eligibility standards are quite high, especially in states that offer premium assistance with private health plans. You can get a substantial discount on family plans if you join a state health insurance plan.

Join a discount health care plan

Many organizations have worked out special discount rates with health insurance companies for their members. You can find discounts on health care and health insurance through your Chamber of Commerce, Small Business Association, even AAA auto clubs or fraternal organizations.

Another option is a discount medical club. For a monthly fee, usually around $30, you are eligible for discounts of up to 25% off your regular costs for office visits, medical supplies, and prescriptions, as long as you use participating member providers. Check online to find a discount medical club that has members near you.

Itemize your taxes

Starting in 2003, if you itemize your taxes, you can deduct 100% of the cost of your health insurance for your tax year. There are limits and restrictions, so check with your accountant or visit the Internal Revenue Service website online at http://www.irs.gov.

Compare prices to get the lowest rates

You can insure yourself through an individual fee-for-service health insurance plan for less than $100 a month by searching online for the best rates. In many cases, you can get quotes online for up to 10 different health insurance companies and choose the one that works best for you. You can even apply online and be covered within 24 hours.

Unexpected medical costs can destroy your business. Some creative financing and unusual options for dealing with it can prevent that from happening.