Individual Health Insurance

Health care costs are constantly on the rise, and individual health insurance can provide the medical care coverage that everyone needs. If you are in the market for a health insurance plan, read on to learn more.

Individual Health Insurance Basics

Individual health coverage is insurance coverage on an individual, rather than a group, basis. Because there are no group discounts, premiums for individual health insurance plans are usually higher than the premiums for group plans.

The application process for individual health insurance is also slightly different. Most group insurance plans are issued without a medical examination. Individual plans, on the other hand, often require an applicant to answer a health questionnaire and undergo medical examinations. Insurers can deny individual health coverage based on the applicant’s state of health, medical history, age, income, personal habits, and anything else that may bring risk to the insurer. Even if coverage is granted, the insurer has the right to place certain limitations in the policy.

If you want to avoid the questionnaire and examination, you may be able to qualify for individual coverage if:

• You have had group coverage within the past 60 days.
• You have had previous group coverage for at least 18 months.
• You are no longer eligible for other types of insurance coverage, such as COBRA, Medicaid or Medicare.

Obtaining Individual Health Insurance

Many people are granted health insurance through their employer. If you are fortunate enough to be in this group, you will find that employer-sponsored medical coverage is generally the most affordable type of health insurance available to you.

If you do not receive health insurance through your employer, or if you are self-employed, you may want to consider purchasing individual health insurance plan to protect yourself from the expense of costly medical emergencies. There are several different plans that provide individual coverage:

• Medicare
• Medicaid
• Health Savings Accounts (HSAs)
• Service-Type Plans (such as Blue Cross Blue Shield)
• Alternative Health Care Systems (such as the Health Maintenance Organization)
• High-Risk State Insurance Pools (not available in all states)

Individual coverage can also be purchased privately, on an individual basis, or through mass groups, such as credit unions and trade associations.

Money Saving Tips

If you want to find Affordable Health Insurance, you will need to shop around. Fortunately, the insurance industry is competitive. With a little bit of time and research, you should be able to find individual health insurance coverage that meets your financial and medical needs. Remember, your first stop should be your employer. This is where you will find the most cost-effective coverage. If your employer does not offer group coverage and will not consider offering it, you will need to take matters into your own hands.

Start by contacting several different insurance agents, brokers, or companies for free Health Insurance Quotes. Ask as much as you can about the coverage that is being offered and the terms for applying. Though cost is important, you do not want to spend money for an inadequate policy.

If you’re not sure where to start, you could try one or more of these health coverage providers:

• Aetna
• Aflac
• American Family Insurance
• Assurant Health
• Blue Cross/Blue Shield
• Celtic Insurance
• Geisinger<
• Humana
• Nationwide Insurance
• State Farm Insurance

Finally, do not forget to consider the organizations that you belong to. Discounted rates may be available through credit unions, trade associations, and other professional organizations. These discounts can save you money on individual health insurance coverage.