| At some point, the question stops being can you | | | | the paperwork you will be signing. When selecting an |
| afford it and becomes can you afford not to? The | | | | individual health insurance plan remember that the |
| good news for consumers is there are many | | | | more healthcare you require due in large part to age, |
| companies fighting for your health insurance business | | | | the more you will pay. |
| which brings prices down. | | | | Individual health insurance plans can vary up to 50% |
| First Steps - What Do You Need? | | | | from one carrier to another. You may get two quotes |
| What should you look for in individual health insurance? | | | | that are close but looking at the coverage could show |
| There are some basic questions you should ask | | | | some major differences. You need to spend some |
| before purchasing a policy. You want to find just the | | | | serious time looking at your options. |
| right mix of coverage for your personal situation. | | | | This is too important to rush through. If you do not |
| If you are a young healthy person you are going to | | | | understand something, stay on the phone until the |
| have a much easier time getting coverage. On the | | | | representative can adequately explain it. |
| contrary, if you have a serious medical condition it may | | | | Remember - YOU Are The Customer, So Get The |
| be excluded from the policy, yet you must be up-front | | | | Product You Need |
| about that information. It is better to let them know | | | | You are their customer and you deserve to have all |
| now rather than later when you could get you claim | | | | the information you need to make an informed |
| revoked. | | | | decision. Individual health insurance is provided by many |
| Always ask what your premium will be, what your | | | | different companies and an online search should be a |
| deductible is, the yearly limit of coverage and their | | | | first step. |
| policies on pre-existing conditions. It is much better to | | | | You also should ask around to any friends and family |
| be armed with all this information, before you seek | | | | with individual health insurance and see how they |
| coverage and find out you do not have it. Go in | | | | handled the process. Find out whom they use and if |
| informed and insist on straight answers. | | | | they are satisfied. |
| What Health Individual Health Insurance Plans Are | | | | Individual health insurance policies are mostly in place |
| Available? | | | | for catastrophic illness. If anything were to happen to |
| Individual health plans can be set up just like the group | | | | you, this protection will usually save you from limited |
| benefits that employers once provided. There are | | | | care or bankruptcy. |
| HMO's and PPO's to choose from and you should | | | | There are health insurance agents available who can |
| read all the information you can get from the | | | | review individual health insurance plans and answer |
| companies you are reviewing. Get a live person on the | | | | your questions and help you find the most coverage |
| phone and ask all the questions you can. | | | | for the least money. |
| Take notes of everything you are told, to compare to | | | | You just have to ask! |