As mothers, we put our kids first. As long as they're covered, we often don't worry about ourselves.

I'm glad to hear your ex is at least making sure the kids have health insurance. But you, my dear, still need to get yourself some.

I know you rarely allow yourself to be sick. You'll fight through any ailment just to be sure you can collect that paycheck. But you're taking a HUGE risk by going without health insurance. And you're not just putting yourself in danger. By not getting health insurance you're also risking the health of your children’s mother and their financial future as well.

What if an accident happens and you wind up needing surgery? How will you pay the tens of thousands in hospital bills, not to mention all the money you'll be out in lost work and added child care? If health insurance is not available through your employer, an individual health insurance plan is a must for you.

You have a lot of options, but considering the limited time and out-of-pocket income most single moms have, I'd recommend sticking to a managed care plan. These require the least amount of paperwork and the widest range of services at a set monthly fee.

There are plans with lower monthly premiums, but they carry high deductibles, so you'll be paying more out of pocket. And you'll have to file claims and keep receipts, etc.

Check out the article Single Mom's Guide to Insurance: Plan Types in Plain English. It spells out the most popular plan types and the pros and cons of each.

No matter which you decide to go with, be sure to shop around.

Rates for single moms insurance plans can vary greatly from company to company, even for the same coverage. So be sure to check out an insurance comparison site such as InsWeb.com.