What is Individual Health Insurance?
Individual health insurance is coverage that you pay for yourself. Most Americans get their health insurance coverage through an employer or through a government program, but about 7 percent of the population purchases individual health coverage. Individual health insurance is regulated by each state separately.
It's Different from Group Health Insurance
Various state laws laws mandate what coverage must be included in individual policies, so they are different from group policies in the same state. Individual health insurance coverage is generally less comprehensive than at work. Individual consumers may be surprised to learn that some benefits that may be considered "standard" in a group policy, like maternity coverage or substance-abuse treatment, may not be included in an individual plan.
Individual Health Insurance Usually Costs Less
The coverage included in individual health insurance is often less comprehensive and deductibles and coinsurance are also generally higher, so the premiums are lower.
Applying for Individual Health Insurance
Health insurance companies providing individual health plans are much more limited than group insurance companies in their ability to spread risk, so the laws concerning individual health insurance are different in most states. This means that applicants for individual insurance will need to complete a brief medical questionnaire when applying for benefits and, unlike a group insurance policy, in most states a company can decide not to cover people with very serious medical conditions (e.g., HIV or cancer), deeming them "uninsurable."
Individual Health Insurance Companies
You'll find it easy to select only the brand name health insurance companies that you want to compare. We provide information on most well known health insurance companies. Each company has scores of different individual health insurance plans. You may only want to compare the individual health insurance plans offered by one or two carriers you, Why cluster your personal individual health insurance quote with all those companies you don't want to consider.
Get Started with Your Individual Health Insurance
You can get started with your individual health insurance quote online. Since premiums are regulated at the state level, your rates will be the same as if you were to purchase your health plan directly from the insurance company. If you would like help or have questions about individual health insurance coverage or rates, call us for free at 800-557-5693. We are here to help 8 AM to 8 PM Pacific time.
