| The Pros and Cons of Individual Medical Insurance Plans Individual medical insurance is coverage that a person obtains independently, whether for an individual, a parent and dependent children, or a family. Although most Americans get their health insurance through their employer or a government program, some purchase insurance plans on an individual basis. Individual medical insurance can be a good choice for many people: Individuals that are self-employed, have exhausted their COBRA coverage through their former employer, or can't afford the high costs of COBRA premiums can get affordable coverage with an individual insurance plan. Students, spouses, and other dependents may also find it less expensive to purchase an individual health insurance plan than to go through a parent or spouse's group plan. And for those individuals that have retired early, individual medical insurance plans can provide coverage until they reach Medicare eligibility. With the high costs of group insurance premiums, and with fewer employers providing coverage for their employees, more and more people are turning to private or individual medical insurance. At Affordable-Insurance.com, we can help you decide if an individual medical insurance plan is right for you. We provide quotes for individual health insurance in Washington, Individual health insurance in Idaho, individual health insurance in Oregon, MediCare plans, MediCare supplement plans, and more. Read on for more on the pros and cons of individual medical insurance, or call us today to get a quote. The Pros Individual medical insurance plans are often very different than group health insurance plans, which are offered through an employer. Under the right circumstances, private medical insurance plans can save healthy individuals and families money. Because individual medical insurance plans allow people to pick and choose among coverage features, they are can be more affordable than group coverage. This allows you to pay only for what you need - by deciding which services to pay for, and which not to include. Group health insurance plans usually don't allow you as many options. You may be able to choose between different plans, but your employer is the one to determine costs and coverage. Individual medical insurance plans also have another benefit - the plan is yours whether you keep your job or not. When you leave a job, you no longer have to worry about being dropped by your health insurance provider, or about the high costs of COBRA coverage. With a private plan, you also don't have to worry about the gap in between when your old employer's coverage ends, and your new employer's coverage begins. While individual medical insurance plans may be right for some people, there are some disadvantages that should be considered. As stated before, the coverage provided under private plans may be less comprehensive than what is provided under a group plan. Benefits included in a group policy (like maternity, mental health, or substance abuse treatments) may not be included in an individual medical insurance plan. Private insurance plans may also be more difficult for some individuals to acquire. Because health insurance companies may reject applicants with serious health conditions, people with pre-existing conditions may be denied coverage, or may be asked to pay insanely high premiums. Individual medical insurance plans are also age rated, which means that premiums will rise with age. |