How to Purchase Individual Health Insurance

When Employer Health Plan Runs Out, Individual Plan Kicks In

Mar 2, 2009

Going without health insurance can be financially risky, particularly if the person is unemployed for a longer period. Here's how to purchase individual health insurance.

Healthcare reform is something that has been discussed for years, yet for some reason the government has failed to enact any substantive changes to make health care more accessible and affordable to everyone.

Among the problems with the modern-day health care system is the fact that health insurance is tied to the employer. Thus if the employee loses his or her job, they also lose their health insurance along with it.

Should we switch to a government-run health care system? Or should we keep the system going as is? Ideology aside, it is becoming ever clearer that going without health coverage is a risk people may not want to take.

Why Loss of Health Coverage is Risky

Anybody who has had a dental or medical issue and has sought healthcare while unemployed knows full well how expensive it can be. It can bankrupt the individual very quickly. In fact, recent studies have shown that lack of healthcare coverage causes more bankruptcies than credit card debt.

This is why, particularly with people who have pre-existing medical conditions, it is very important to ensure a continuity of healthcare coverage with an individual health plan. Though generally more expensive than an employer-based plan, it eliminates the financial risk associated with the absence of a health plan.

Those who are in good health and desire a less expensive health plan may want to consider short-term health coverage. However, short-term health plans generally only cover catastrophic injury that would result in a major accident such as a car wreck.

Finding Health Insurance on the Web

Finding an individual health plan on the web is easy, and the person can get a rate quote quickly. Numerous websites offer a wealth of information on health insurance and what the person needs to know when purchasing an individual health plan.

Health insurance websites typically offer rate quotes and comparison health plan shopping among a number of major health providers including Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Humana, Cigna, Kaiser Permanente, and UnitedHealthcare. Some also offer healthcare tips, policy options, and healthcare news.

Though the up-front cost of individual health plans may seem expensive, going without health coverage is financially risky in this age of skyrocketing healthcare costs. All it takes is a dental procedure or an unplanned hospital stay to send a person into bankruptcy. That’s why it is so important to continue healthcare coverage, even if it costs a little more.

The copyright of the article How to Purchase Individual Health Insurance in Health Insurance is owned by Daniel Gansle. Permission to republish How to Purchase Individual Health Insurance in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Mar 31, 2009 9:34 PM

Guest :

Though you do list some strong carriers, you seemed to miss of of the most specific for this article. Cobra Help Center is a leader in guaranteeing major medical coverage to those people who are coming off of COBRA, even if that have cancer, diabetes, COPD or any other condition. Health insurance should not be skimped on as you talked about, but getting fulling insured major medical coverage for those who have pre-existing conditions may be impossible with out the right help.