Health Insurance For Individuals

If your employer does not offer group or small business health insurance, or if the insurance offered is very limited, you can buy a health insurance policy for individuals. You can get fee for service, HMO, or PPO protection. But you should compare your options and shop carefully because coverage and costs vary from company to company. Individual health insurance plans may not offer benefits as broad as those in group plans.

If you get a non-cancellable policy (also called a guaranteed renewable policy), then you will receive individual insurance under that policy as long as you keep paying the monthly premium. The insurance company can raise the cost, but cannot cancel your coverage. Many companies now offer a conditionally renewable policy. This means that the insurance company can cancel all policies like yours, not just yours. This protects you from being singled out. But it doesn’t protect you from losing coverage.

Before you buy any health insurance policy, make sure you know what it will pay for…and what it won’t. To find out about individual health insurance plans, you can call insurance companies, HMOs, and PPOs in your community, or speak to a Heritage Companies insurance agent at (816) 322 6350.

Tips when shopping for health insurance for individuals:

• Shop carefully. Policies differ widely in coverage and cost. Contact different insurance companies, or ask your agent to show you policies from several insurers so you can compare them.
• Make sure the policy protects you from large medical costs.
• Read and understand the policy. Make sure it provides the kind of coverage that’s right for you. You don’t want unpleasant surprises when you’re sick or in the hospital.
• Check to see that the policy states: the date that the policy will begin paying (some have a waiting period before coverage begins), and what is covered or excluded from coverage.
• Make sure there is a “free look” clause. Most companies give you at least 10 days to look over your policy after you receive it. If you decide it is not for you, you can return it and have your premium refunded.
• Beware of single disease insurance policies. There are some polices that offer protection for only one disease, such as cancer. If you already have health insurance for individuals, your regular plan probably already provides all the coverage you need. Check to see what protection you have before buying any more insurance.

Please feel free to contact Heritage Companies for more information on Medicare Advantage Plans