It is not uncommon in the United States for people to have health coverage with their job. However, many Americans do not have that option. The only thing they can do is consider buying individual health insurance. In some cases, having insurance with your job, is not the most cost efficient way to go.
The Kaiser Family Foundation says that the average cost of an individual health plan through the company you work for is $779 for an individual and $3,515 for a family. These prices are a calculated average so it stands to reason that many employees are paying more than that each year.
Before you purchase this type of insurance, it is best to shop around and compare the prices and coverage of several different health insurance companies. There are non-profit sites that ask you approximately five questions about your family and then give you a list of the companies in your state that have plans that will meet your or your family’s health needs. The list normally includes the websites and phone numbers for each company.
In the United States, the average cost of a family program is $13,500 a year. Most smaller companies pay less than half of that cost for their employees. A worker in that situation may be able to save a considerable amount of money each year by purchasing his own health insurance plan.
One of the things that affect the validity of saving money on an individual plan instead of a company plan is the area that you live and work in. Folks in the area around New York City would most likely pay more for an individual policy, while workers living in the middle northern states would pay less.
Before a person considers changing from a company health plan to a private health plan there are several things that his company plan offers that he should consider. An individual plan will not include any of these items.
The insurance company that is carried by a private company is obligated to accept every employee for coverage regardless of his health needs. They cannot cancel an employee’s insurance if he becomes ill. The law allows an employee to purchase an 18 month extension on his health insurance if he is laid off.
The company is required by law to waive the waiting period on a new employee if he was covered by insurance in his other job for a longer period than the time of the waiting period. For an example, if an employee worked fifteen months for another company and was covered by their company insurance, and the waiting period at his new job is nine months, then the waiting period is canceled and his entire insurance coverage is effective immediately.
If you decide to switch from your company’s health insurance to a private insurance plan, do not cancel your company insurance until you are certain that you have been accepted by the new company. Private insurers are very particular about previous health problems and waiting periods. It is not uncommon for them to refuse to insure an individual for a number of reasons.
Comparing policies and quotes from various insurance companies is the wise way to go. Read over the policies, and if there is something you don’t understand, call them and ask about it. This is the only way you will be able to make a knowledgeable decision about buying individual health insurance.
Find your cheap health insurance plan today. Buying individual health insurance should not be something you put off for long. Head online today and shop!
