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