Individual Health Insurance Some Basics

Realistically, there are no hard and fast rules regarding the terms of Individual Health Insurance policies. What’s true in one state may not be true in another. What is consistent is the difference between Individual Health Insurance and Group Health Insurance. When you are a member of a Group Health Insurance plan, the company providing coverage to the group cannot exclude you from coverage. With Individual Health Insurance you will have to provide permission for the insurance company to examine your medical history and determine whether medical coverage will even be offered. This is a good reason to buy Individual Health Insurance before you or anyone in your family becomes seriously ill. This is also a good time to point out that when you choose a health insurance plan you want to make sue that the plan is guaranteed renewable, so that if you do become ill the plan cannot be cancelled.

Should you be suffering from a major or chronic illness, an Individual Health Insurance plan may still be available. In most cases however the insurance company will want to exclude coverage for a pre-existing illness either permanently or for a specified amount of time. Your own situation and the nature of your illness will determine whether or not this is a good choice. There are some states where the insurance company is not allowed to exclude illnesses. Unfortunately, from the insurance companies view, this will probably make you uninsurable. You may still be eligible for things like accident insurance or cancer insurance so be sure to check these options with your agent. Always be willing to ask questions and understand the coverage available to you under an Individual Health Insurance policy.

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