Affording Individual Health Insurance
Everyone in the United States is discussing health insurance these days. Who has it, who doesn’t have it, who can afford it, who really needs it? If you have been to a doctor lately, you’ll know that you’ll probably be asked about your insurance plan before you’re questioned about your health problems. An unfortunate fact, to be sure, but a fact nonetheless. So the question, “Is cheap individual health insurance right for you?” must be answered with a resounding “yes!”
If you have had group insurance in the past, you’ll be a bit taken aback by the difference in premiums between what you had been paying as a group member and what you’ll be expected to pay as an individual. That’s because, in the former case, your employer was picking up the bulk of the tab, leaving you with a smaller share of the cost. Additionally, the rates were based on the size of the group, the median age of the employees, and similar factors. Nevertheless, cheap individual health insurance is available, if you take the time to look for it.
You have a couple of different options to choose from: traditional coverage and HMO insurance plans. In the first instance, you can use any doctor or hospital you desire, without the necessity of having a referral from a general practitioner or primary physician. You can request a list of doctors who accept your particular coverage and choose one of them, or you can go to someone else and probably be charged a little more per visit. In any case, you can select any physician you like if you have traditional insurance coverage.
The other option is an HMO, which will cost less, but which will limit your choices. If you decide on an HMO, you will be expected to visit specific doctors for your primary care and see only specialists referred by him. If you’re in good health, this choice may prove to be the right cheap individual health insurance for you.
Of course, you can also supplement your individual policy with an indemnity or catastrophic policy that covers accidents, illness and surgeries that are spelled out in the policy. These plans pay you directly instead of the doctor or hospital and although they may not cover everything, they may still be your best alternative when shopping for cheap individual health insurance.
When looking for your best bet, find an agent you trust and make sure to read everything in the fine print before signing a policy. Have your agent explain all the details of your coverage including rates, deductibles, co-pays, pre-existing condition clauses, whether you get vision and dental care and if prescription medications are covered.
The main thing to remember is that, with due diligence, you can and should be able to find good cheap individual health coverage that will give you peace of mind and won’t lead you into bankruptcy.
Cheap individual health insurance plans are a reality