Choosing an individual health insurance plan takes a little more work than signing up for a group health plan through your employer.
First, you need to decide what kind of health insurance you want. You need to know this if you have group health insurance, but you have to look for the right policy on your own if you have individual health insurance. Think about any health problems that you already had. Are you diabetic? What about conditions of the mind? Problems with your heart? Look for insurance companies that cover these conditions, and don't lie to the insurance agents. Giving them false information will hurt your coverage.
Next, think about the premiums. You want a health insurance plan for yourself that you can pay for and that gives you the coverage you need. Look at your budget and choose a price range that you're comfortable with, i.e. one that you can pay for without having to get a second job. Look for plans in this price range when you're shopping for your own health insurance. Make sure that the policies you can afford cover everything you need.
Lastly, learn as much as you can about the health insurance companies you're thinking about. Even though the company has a health insurance plan for individuals that will cover your needs without making you go broke, that doesn't mean you should do business with them. Visit the website of an independent research company to find out how each health insurance company is doing financially. On the Better Business Bureau's website, look up the health insurance company to see if anyone has complained about it. And make sure the health insurance company is licenced to do business in your state by calling the department of insurance in your state.
A final word of caution: a plan that seems like it would be cheap but isn't may just be a discount plan. Ask the representative because there is a big difference between the two.
