With the unemployment rate still high, there are a large number of parents who struggle to find affordable family health insurance plans. Even when economic conditions improve, many may still wonder how they will be able to provide health insurance coverage for themselves and their children.

National Public Radio recently profiled a family of four living in Alabama, named Pendergrass. While their family income of $43,000 a year is about average in the state, Darryl Pendergrass noted that he hasn't received a raise in years because of budget cuts, but he has been expected to pay more for health insurance.

A recent study performed on behalf of Families USA predicts that 442,000 people, and families like the Pendergrasses, will be eligible for healthcare premium tax credits in 2014, when health insurance will be required for most Americans.

Families USA executive director Ron Pollack says the tax cut will help working families pay for health insurance coverage.

"This is the largest middle-income tax cut in history, and it will enable many hard-working Alabamans to afford health insurance premiums that have stretched family budgets," says Pollack. "The tax cut will not only put significant extra cash in Alabamans' pocketbooks, but it will also ease the burden of families' growing health care costs."