Individual Health Insurance
There are many options available for individuals when it comes to health insurance. If you are self-employed or your employer doesn’t offer health care, individual health insurance may be the way to go. You are likely eligible for many types of health policies, such as HMOs, PPOs, HSAs, HRAs and some others.
Accidental health insurance may be a good individual health insurance policy for you if you do a lot of traveling or are prone to getting into accidents, whether at home or while at work. It is usually effective immediately and gives you worldwide coverage with air ambulance expenses paid. There are also some other good benefits, such as:
- Accidental Death and Dismemberment
- Benefits paid directly to you
- Choice of any doctor and medical facility
Anyone between the age 0 and 69 are eligible – most of the time there are no health screenings involved.
With many individual health insurance plans, there are rules and requirements of the applicant before being approved. In most states, a health screening is required and if you have pre-existing health conditions, you may find it much more difficult to obtain a policy. If you are accepted for a policy and then become ill later on, your insurance plan cannot be canceled.
HMOs (Health Maintenance Organizations) and PPOs (Preferred Provider Organizations) are similar and many people like to go with it because it is affordable. They offer flat-rate monthly premiums and have a network of physicians you can choose from. With the HMO, you are required to choose a Primary Care Physician within their network and can only go to them for your health care needs (unless an emergency occurs). The Primary Care Physician also refers you to specialists that are covered by your policy. With the PPO, you are not required to have a Primary Care Physician and can even choose one that is outside of the network.