How to Shop for Individual Health Insurance

If you find yourself in the position of shopping for anindividual health insurance policy, there are certain thingsyou'll want to keep in mind. Whether you are coming out of a job that covered you before, or are at the end of yourCOBRA benefits, or simply have never had coverage beforethere are things you can do to get coverage on yourself andyour loved ones.

The basic thing to know is that if you have a shot a grouphealth insurance, whether through a job or an association you're a member of, that is usually much more affordablethan buying individual health insurance on your own. Firstyou need to figure out your health insurance goals; in otherwords, what are you after? If you're young, healthy as ahorse, no dependents and not attempting Mt. Everest nextweek, you may want to opt for a policy that covers only thecatastrophes, and cover the rest out-of-pocket. On the flipside of that, if you're the sole bread winner with a familyto support, the scenario is different.

The basic choices you'll have are Fee-for-Service, ManagedCare Plans, and Association-based health insurance. Fee-for-service is the traditional indemnity plan, harder toacquire, more expensive, but usually great coverage.Managed care plans include most HMO's and PPO's. These offerlower costs but your choices are somewhat limited. Anotherway to get insured is through a group or association youmay already be a member of, such as professional, religiousor trade organizations. Often they may offer healthinsurance. It's worth checking out, as sometimes you canstrike gold in this vein.

Things to consider when you're looking for any policy arewhat's covered on this plan, how much are the monthlypremiums, what is the yearly out-of-pocket, what is thedeductible, how much are office visits, does it coverpreventative medicine, vision, dental? And I'm sure you cancome up with many of your own. Sit down before you goshopping and make a list of your needs and wants, and decidein advance what you're willing to give to get. Be aware thatonce you start getting quotes they can vary as much as 50%for the same person! Remember, you're shopping, and nobody'smaking you do anything. If one insurer isn't cutting it,move on to another. If you're coming at this cold and haveno good recommendations it may be wise to use a broker whorepresents several companies, as he or she wil be morelikely to find the best policy for you, as opposed toselling the company they work for.

Shopping for individual health insurance can befrustrating and time-consuming, but if you come armed withfacts you'll be able to navigate this highly competitive andever-changing field.

Keith Thompson is the webmaster at health Insurance Plans, asite geared toward helping you find great individual healthinsurance!

MORE RESOURCES:

Health Insurance Trade Group Proposal Praised By Sen Kennedy - CNNMoney.com

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd width=80 align=center valign=topfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifa href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/0i-0fd=Rurl=http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2008/12/03/lobbies_backing_health_reformscid=1276087059ei=sCI3SZvANpzI8ATIy8ClDwusg=AFQjCNEWYGHU9njIO7er2urmijfxAJg3KQimg src=http://news.google.com/news?imgefp=NjYczUVrFSgJimgurl=cache.boston.com/resize/bonzai-fba/Globe_Photo/2008/12/02/1228276337_6990/539w.jpg width=80 height=46 alt= border=1brfont size=-2Boston Globe/font/a/font/tdtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/0-0fd=Rurl=http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/djf500/200812031348DOWJONESDJONLINE000793_FORTUNE5.htmcid=1276087059ei=sCI3SZvANpzI8ATIy8ClDwusg=AFQjCNG8skmWNTElNNbI2GGmk2ompQNqGgHealth bInsurance/b Trade Group Proposal Praised By Sen Kennedy/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fCNNMoney.comnbsp;-/font nobr5 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1WASHINGTON -(Dow Jones)- A proposal unveiled Wednesday by the health binsurance/b industry would provide universal health coverage and hack away at medical b.../b/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/0-1fd=Rurl=http://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2008/12/insurers_announ.htmlcid=1276087059ei=sCI3SZvANpzI8ATIy8ClDwusg=AFQjCNG4LzM3zHmxm-tZG5ETIFbQ24LkjwInsurers announce health reform proposals/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrBoston Globe/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/0-2fd=Rurl=http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hzKsmsEv6uJIYgJlH2-oDgHkEqswD94RERP00cid=1276087059ei=sCI3SZvANpzI8ATIy8ClDwusg=AFQjCNE6dE3Ey4l8cw7boiBQGGlJLGVAGgInsurers like Obama health plan, with reservations/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrThe Associated Press/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/0-3fd=Rurl=http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1208/16184.htmlcid=1276087059ei=sCI3SZvANpzI8ATIy8ClDwusg=AFQjCNHd8dkhvL5nsy9HP_sji1byfXDJKAbInsurance/b industry positions itself for the fight ahead/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrPolitico/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1 class=pa href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/0-4fd=Rurl=http://www.speroforum.com/site/article.asp%3Fidarticle%3D16930cid=1276087059ei=sCI3SZvANpzI8ATIy8ClDwusg=AFQjCNHhCAdCHgEWsd--F4eBpx8QtafwlwnobrSpero News/nobr/anbsp;- a href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/0-5fd=Rurl=http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/editorial/bal-ed.medigap03dec03,0,6345756.storycid=1276087059ei=sCI3SZvANpzI8ATIy8ClDwusg=AFQjCNGF0DV2o-qpWkKBTpIz4mtHeN0ibwnobrBaltimore Sun/nobr/a/fontbr/font class=p size=-1a class=p href=http://news.google.com/news?sourceid=navclientie=ISO-8859-1rls=GGLG,GGLG:2005-22,GGLG:enncl=1276087059hl=ennobrall 141 news articles/nobr/a/font/div/font/td/tr/table

Insurance rise at coast could help protect plan - Forbes

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd width=80 align=center valign=topfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifa href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/1i-0fd=Rurl=http://www.wnct.com/nct/news/world/article/paloma_becomes_major_hurricane_off_grand_cayman/23143/cid=1276980010ei=sCI3SZvANpzI8ATIy8ClDwusg=AFQjCNECZ46_Xw7ooIP5_vXT23og1fqk3Aimg src=http://news.google.com/news?imgefp=bZz19DWxRK4Jimgurl=media.wnct.com/wnct/img-story/images/uploads/Hurricane_Bg_2.jpg width=80 height=60 alt= border=1brfont size=-2WNCT/font/a/font/tdtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/1-0fd=Rurl=http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2008/12/03/ap5773939.htmlcid=1276980010ei=sCI3SZvANpzI8ATIy8ClDwusg=AFQjCNFcTB-Q9P4aQ4ttWDPZftfXm3QE5wbInsurance/b rise at coast could help protect plan/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fForbes,nbsp;NYnbsp;-/font nobr7 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1By GARY D. ROBERTSON , 12.03.08, 11:58 AM EST Property owners in 18 coastal counties soon will pay more for binsurance/b premiums through a state-sanctioned b.../b/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/1-1fd=Rurl=http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/southeast/2008/12/03/95994.htmcid=1276980010ei=sCI3SZvANpzI8ATIy8ClDwusg=AFQjCNEVW6inL1R14rvrH7qGEK7CN1Q6CAInsurers Urge Surcharges, Reforms to Fix North Carolina Beach Plan/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrInsurance Journal/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/1-2fd=Rurl=http://www.rockymounttelegram.com/news/state/insurance-rise-at-coast-could-help-protect-plan-272177.htmlcid=1276980010ei=sCI3SZvANpzI8ATIy8ClDwusg=AFQjCNF0SBFR_Xa5QZ9JZ8LbJ8EiBMAglwbInsurance/b rise at coast could help protect plan/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrRocky Mount Telegram/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/1-3fd=Rurl=http://www.newsobserver.com/news/story/1318341.htmlcid=1276980010ei=sCI3SZvANpzI8ATIy8ClDwusg=AFQjCNH5oJe_lnL8IyPwmQ40_o1fN_wV1ACoast#39;s risks may sting state/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrNews Observer/nobr/font/fontbrfont class=p size=-1a class=p href=http://news.google.com/news?sourceid=navclientie=ISO-8859-1rls=GGLG,GGLG:2005-22,GGLG:enncl=1276980010hl=ennobrall 27 news articles/nobr/a/font/div/font/td/tr/table

70 Percent of Cruise Insurance Claims Occur Prior to Cruising ... - MarketWatch

NIIT Technologies Announces Key Appointments to Insurance and ... - MarketWatch

Convergence of Negative Economic Factors to Severely Test US ... - MarketWatch

Life Insurance Patent Issued for Future System Advisors, LLC - MarketWatch

AM Best Affirms Ratings of Universal American Corp. and Most of ... - MarketWatch

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/6-0fd=Rurl=http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/AM-Best-Affirms-Ratings-Universal/story.aspx%3Fguid%3D%257BCF55CD15-8508-4AF3-A2EB-2084D4F000CD%257Dcid=1277257710ei=sCI3SZvANpzI8ATIy8ClDwusg=AFQjCNHlmVmS9WlC9HT-Eu1gZC81Iv9u8AAM Best Affirms Ratings of Universal American Corp. and Most of b.../b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fMarketWatchnbsp;-/font nobr3 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1The rating affirmations reflect Universal American#39;s improved statutory operating results and growing regional presence in the senior health binsurance/b b.../b/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/6-1fd=Rurl=http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/AM-Best-Withdraws-Ratings-Mutual/story.aspx%3Fguid%3D%257B34653E87-5EA8-4917-A47A-3385B335B9AD%257Dcid=1277257710ei=sCI3SZvANpzI8ATIy8ClDwusg=AFQjCNFo6MlFJ4QqVkXcAn0u7gS1erRuEgAM Best Withdraws Ratings of Mutual of Detroit bInsurance/b Company b.../b/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrMarketWatch/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/6-2fd=Rurl=http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/Bests-Review-Examines-Insuring-Railroads/story.aspx%3Fguid%3D%257BB12C7BBD-4C6B-4070-86CA-AC6377CA1EB5%257Dcid=1277257710ei=sCI3SZvANpzI8ATIy8ClDwusg=AFQjCNGJE9OH26IFOHvsLA9DKQU3KHZrCwBest#39;s Review Examines Insuring Railroads#39; Huge Risks/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrMarketWatch/nobr/font/fontbrfont class=p size=-1a class=p href=http://news.google.com/news?sourceid=navclientie=ISO-8859-1rls=GGLG,GGLG:2005-22,GGLG:enncl=1277257710hl=ennobrall 48 news articles/nobr/a/font/div/font/td/tr/table

DTRIC Insurance Company in Production With DRC#39;s DecisionMaker for ... - MarketWatch

Sheboygan Falls Insurance acquired The Business Journal of Milwaukee - Bizjournals.com

Nurses Reject AHIP Proposal as a #39;Marshall Plan for Health Insurers#39; - MarketWatch

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd width=80 align=center valign=topfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifa href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/9i-0fd=Rurl=http://www.salem-news.com/articles/december032008/cal_nurses_12-3-08.phpcid=1277193139ei=sCI3SZvANpzI8ATIy8ClDwusg=AFQjCNH-UYgDcs15ZLCEO-X4oRxyjaqW7wimg src=http://news.google.com/news?imgefp=Nm7H8IvXn_IJimgurl=www.salem-news.com/stimg/december032008/california_nurses.jpg width=62 height=80 alt= border=1brfont size=-2Salem-News.Com/font/a/font/tdtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/9-0fd=Rurl=http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/Nurses-Reject-AHIP-Proposal-a/story.aspx%3Fguid%3D%257B3F2EB1B1-8767-4318-B26D-9AC9A3C46A9F%257Dcid=1277193139ei=sCI3SZvANpzI8ATIy8ClDwusg=AFQjCNGk07wOog0ss1ezNEXChZyLOaoiRANurses Reject AHIP Proposal as a #39;Marshall Plan for Health Insurers#39;/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fMarketWatchnbsp;-/font nobr2 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1DeMoro noted the precarious position of these binsurance/b corporations. CIGNA#39;s stock has fallen by 78 percent, from a 52-week high, while Humana stock has b.../b/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/9-1fd=Rurl=http://www.ibtimes.com/prnews/20081203/ca-californianurses.htmcid=1277193139ei=sCI3SZvANpzI8ATIy8ClDwusg=AFQjCNERx8cBo_OhuE6kUM89HMEfOHsoywNurses Reject AHIP Proposal as a #39;Marshall Plan for Health Insurers#39;/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrInternational Business Times/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/9-2fd=Rurl=http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/New-Report-Shows-Slower-Premium/story.aspx%3Fguid%3D%257B897AA234-2F51-418A-8F70-FD88D5EB4885%257Dcid=1277193139ei=sCI3SZvANpzI8ATIy8ClDwusg=AFQjCNGe1aWQgt6G-zN3UhMM46YfmRVbrwNew Report Shows Slower Premium Growth, But Increasing Pressure to b.../b/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrMarketWatch/nobr/font/fontbrfont class=p size=-1a class=p href=http://news.google.com/news?sourceid=navclientie=ISO-8859-1rls=GGLG,GGLG:2005-22,GGLG:enncl=1277193139hl=ennobrall 17 news articles/nobr/a/font/div/font/td/tr/table

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