Tips for Finding Individual Health Insurance

Tips for Finding Individual Health Insurance

Finding individual health insurance on your own can seem overwhelming. While you want to be covered, you also don’t want to spend an arm and a leg to get that coverage. There are many ways to find the individual health insurance coverage that is right for you. Below are several tips to help you find the best value for your money.

1. Comparing health insurance quotes online is the quickest and fastest way to get the best rates. You can even compare plans side-by-side to see the difference between your favorite plans and help you choose the right plan more easily.
   
   
2. Make sure that the individual health insurance policy that you choose will guarantee renewal each year. This keeps you from having to reapply or losing your insurance at the end of a term because you have too many medical expenses.
   
   
3. Consider COBRA health insurance when leaving a job to tide you over until you can find a new insurance plan. If your COBRA coverage runs out before you do, you can also apply for a short-term health insurance plan, which you may be able to keep for an additional year and then reapply as needed.
   
   
4. Make sure you understand the difference between HMOs, PPOs, and POS plans when looking for health insurance. You may be unhappily surprised if you want the flexibility of a PPO plan, but accidentally choose a restrictive HMO plan simply because you did not understand what the terms meant.
   
   
5. Make sure the policy covers everything you need. Cheaper plans will sometimes omit services that many assume are part of their plan, so confirm what is included and what isn’t before you purchase.
   
   
6. Make sure you have 10 days to “return” the policy if it doesn’t work for you. This way you have a chance to read over all of the materials sent to you by the company, before you are stuck with the new plan.
   
   
7. Find out if your doctor is included in your prospective insurance policy. If not, you may want to choose a PPO so that you have flexibility of continuing with your physician if you wish.
   
   
8. Figure out your health insurance goals and if they include comprehensive coverage. You can pick up a short-term healthcare plan if you want emergency-only coverage. This is great for students or those who are between jobs and don’t have any regular medical expenses which would require more comprehensive coverage.
   
   
9. Find independent resources to learn about all of your health care options without bias. You can find such resources on our website.  

Remember that having health insurance not only protects your physical health, but your financial well-being too. The last thing you want to do is to have a long illness or terrible accident with no health insurance coverage and rack up thousands in medical bills. Health insurance is a necessary expense and the above tips will help you find the best plan for you.