Individual Health Insurance

Individual health insurance covers the medical expenses of only one person or family. Unlike group insurance, you purchase individual insurance directly from an insurance company. When you apply for individual insurance, you are evaluated in terms of how much risk you present. This is generally done through a series of medical questions. Your risk potential determines whether you qualify, and how much your insurance will cost.

Before issuing an individual insurance policy, the insurer will want to know everything about your personal health history. It is unwise to try to hide a pre-existing condition from your insurer, since many insurers use information from the Medical Information Bureau (MIB) to determine whether an applicant is insurable. If the insurer doesn't want to cover a particular health condition, they may waive that condition for a period of time.

Coverage options include a wide array of deductible choices and plan options. Some plans cover only hospital stays, while others offer more complete cove rage including; co-pays for doctor visits, co-pays for prescription drugs, lab and x-ray, ambulance, and emergency rooms. HSA's offer the choice of a High Deductible health plan combined with a savings account to pay for out of pocket expenses.