| With so many people considering switching | | | | for himself, or his family. Your employer can |
| themselves, or some, or all family members | | | | move his whole company over to a third world |
| from their employer sponsored group health | | | | nation and you'll still be covered, as long |
| insurance plans to personal individual and | | | | as the premium is paid on time. This is not |
| family medical plans, there are some things | | | | the case with employer sponsored group |
| that first need to be considered. | | | | coverage. There, when you leave an employer, |
| | | | you also leave your insurance behind. |
| Understand that there are major advantages | | | | |
| and disadvantages, even some risks inherent | | | | If private, individual, or family health |
| to both options the decision to take a family | | | | insurance sounds appealing, there are some |
| member off of group coverage should not be | | | | major issues you need to be made aware of |
| taken lightly. | | | | before making the decision. First and |
| | | | foremost, not everyone is accepted in private |
| The advantages are immediately obvious. The | | | | plans. Preexisting conditions may excluded |
| savings on premiums are often significant. | | | | from coverage and many conditions render a |
| The average monthly insurance cost (varies by | | | | person "uninsurable" altogether to private |
| Zip code - and has probably already increased | | | | companies. |
| before the metaphoric ink on this page dries) | | | | |
| for a healthy Californian single person is | | | | Private companies also "rate" their coverage |
| $139/mo. Family premium is, on average, $357. | | | | based on age. While coverage may be |
| | | | affordable when the policy is first issued, |
| Typically, employers charge their workers | | | | the age-based increases can render it beyond |
| hundreds of dollars more than that for their | | | | a persons means. You should review the costs |
| contributory share | | | | annually. |
| | | | |
| Another advantage of leaving your group plan | | | | Private health insurance may be less |
| and choosing individual or family health | | | | comprehensive than group health insurance. |
| insurance is that with the latter you have | | | | You are likely to find that some conditions |
| choices. You can opt to cover only what you | | | | and treatments (such as maternity) once |
| choose, while saving money on options you | | | | covered are no longer and copays you had |
| consider unnecessary. With private insurance | | | | taken for granted with group are no where |
| you can choose the deductible, the copay and | | | | near the value of your group plan. Dollar for |
| eliminate anything anything from the plan | | | | dollar your group plan may go farther, but |
| which you consider superfluous, thus saving a | | | | you need to decide how far you need to go, |
| good deal of money. | | | | what is important to you and what you can |
| | | | afford. |
| One other factor in favor of opting for a | | | | |
| private plan is that your coverage is not | | | | No matter what your priorities, your decision |
| dependent on where you work, or even if you | | | | should not be made alone. You should enlist |
| have a job. The coverage is yours. A | | | | the help of a trained professional who can |
| dissatisfied employee can leave his job any | | | | spotlight the advantages, disadvantages and |
| time and not worry about the loss of coverage | | | | potential risks of each path. |