The cost of health insurance in the United States is a vexing issue that many families wrestle with and struggle to afford. Unfortunately, employer–provided family health coverage is often expensive and can far exceed the costs of living expenses like mortgages, electric bills or car payments. That’s why it’s so important to understand your options and consider other strategies for getting the coverage you and your family need.

This week’s episode of Ask Betty! deals with this very issue. Our guest, Kris_LPN, laments that her employer’s family coverage is more expensive than her mortgage. In response, Ninja Betty points out that since the employer coverage is nearly free for just Kris_LPN, the rest of the family should be split off onto a more affordable option.