Trying to find affordable private health insurance on your own can seem to be an overwhelming task. If you have lost your employee health insurance, due to job loss or the rising cost of employer sponsored health insurance, there are options available for you. Right now, there are over 46 million Americans who have no health insurance at all. InsuranceUSA.com is here to give you the information you need for that you can find affordable private health insurance for you and your family.
Go to InsuranceUSA.com and type in your age and your Zip Code. You will then get a list of private health insurance options that cover your area. You can narrow the search down by adding in your health and your income level. There are a variety of options, with the monthly premiums ranging anywhere from $100 to $1,000, depending on what you want and how much you are able to pay. Even though it may seem to be like quite a job to sift through all this information, it is important that you find the right private health insurance for you and your family.
Of the 46 million Americans who do not have any type of private health insurance, many simply do not know where to find the information they need. InsuranceUSA.com is here to help you, and millions like you, find just the right private health insurance plan to fit your needs and your income level. Private health insurance can be expensive, depending on which program and type of coverage you choose. When you look at a private health insurance plan, it is important that you look at more than just the monthly premium that you will pay per month. For instance, a private health insurance plan with a premium of $100 a month may cost less than what you were paying per month for your health insurance through your employer. However, that private health insurance policy may have exclusions for certain health problems, or even for pre-existing health conditions. Plus, the deductible you have to pay may be at least $2,000 before the private health insurance coverage begins. Many private health insurance plans also have limits on just how much and how long they will pay for certain expenses. This is all important information that you need to investigate before you take out private health insurance.
Preexisting Conditions
Many private health insurance programs do not cover preexisting medical conditions such as diabetes, cancer, heart disease or AIDS. Generally, health insurance programs provided by employers cover many preexisting medical problems, as well as providing coverage for annual checkups, visits to doctors and emergency care. However, private health insurance is much more restrictive. Private health insurance coverage can be denied if you have preexisting conditions.
Many private health insurance programs do not cover preexisting medical conditions such as diabetes, cancer, heart disease or AIDS. Generally, health insurance programs provided by employers cover many preexisting medical problems, as well as providing coverage for annual checkups, visits to doctors and emergency care. However, private health insurance is much more restrictive. Private health insurance coverage can be denied if you have preexisting conditions.
There is help, though, if you have a preexisting condition and you have lost your job. If the company that you were working for has at least 20 employees, you can qualify for coverage under the COBRA program. COBRA is designed to help employees keep their health insurance for 18 months after they lose a job. This is so that you can still have health insurance while you are between jobs. But, you have to pay the entire amount of the premium, not just the percentage that you were paying when you were employed. In most cases, the employers pay the majority of the costs of health insurance and the employees pay only a small percentage each month. When you use COBRA, you have to pay the entire cost yourself, which can be expensive.
Depending on your state laws, you may still qualify for coverage even if you have preexisting conditions. For instance, New York and Massachusetts do not allow private health insurance companies to turn down clients just because of preexisting conditions. In fact, Massachusetts law says that you cannot be denied health insurance for any illnesses you have. The American Diabetes Association has a map on its web site that gives information for each state regarding what options are available there. In Florida, the Health Department offers services to patients who are HIV-positive or who have AIDS to make sure that they get the treatment they need.
Some people may qualify for health insurance through a union or professional association, depending on their jobs. Teachers, musicians and many other professions have unions that offer group health insurance policies to members, at a much lower rate then private health insurance companies. For more information on the subject, the Henry J. Kaiser Foundation has a list of topics on its website.
“Gap” Health Insurance
Private health insurance is relatively easy to obtain for those who are under 30 and who have no serious health problem. Many recent college graduates who are job hunting decide to take out what is called “gap insurance” until they are covered by their future employer’s group health insurance plan. Gap insurance is designed for the times when you do not have access to group health insurance and want to have temporary private health insurance. The premiums are low – generally about $30-$40 a month, and the policy can run from month to month, rather than a year at a time as some private health insurance policies operate. It is important to compare rates and the types of coverage that each plan offers.
Even people with jobs that offer group health insurance programs find that private health insurance is a better deal for them. For those people with no health problems, there are policies that do not have expensive options, like discounted prescriptions. Many people who are in good health simply need coverage for doctor visits and emergency room expenses. There are several outside options available for prescription drugs, such as through Wall-Mart or other stores.
One thing to keep in mind when looking at private health insurance plans is that the more claims you file, the more your annual premiums will rise. While you are young and healthy that is not a problem, but as soon as you develop health problems, your costs for private health insurance can go up quite a bit. If you have a severe medical problem, for instance one that requires long term therapy, there is a chance that when your private health insurance policy comes up for renewal, the company may decide not to renew your plan, or place restrictions on what is covered.
As you age, more factors come into play when looking for private health insurance. For instance, if you are pregnant, or planning to get pregnant, private health insurance costs can go up. If you are already pregnant, it is almost impossible to find private health insurance that will cover you. Some states, such as New York, do offer assisted pregnancy care for those who do not qualify for private health insurance. Studies have found that on average, a normal delivery, without complications, can cost $7,737, and a birth by Cesarean section can cost $10,958. That is a large amount of money that is not always covered by health insurance.
Private health insurance policies will rise as you get older due to the rising costs of health care. Insurance companies figure that medical costs for someone in their 50’s will be at least twice what it is for someone in their 20’s. If you a re approaching middle-age and need health insurance, it is important to check out just what each private health insurance policy covers for someone in your age group. For instance, if you took an early retirement, or lost your job and you are in middle age, you will need certain tests and procedures to be covered in your private health insurance policy, including prostate cancer screening and mammograms.
The ideal situation is to have a job that offers comprehensive health coverage for a reasonable price. However, in real life, that is not always an option. There are many options available for private health insurance. The best thing to do is to shop around and compare all the policies. Understand what they offer and how much you will be expected to pay out of pocket. InsuranceUSA.com understands your needs, and we are here to help you find the very best private health insurance plan that fits your needs. Go to InsuranceUSA.com today to find out more!