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Individual Health Insurance

Individual Health Insurance is created for those who are not able or do not want to get their group health insurance. Individual health insurance plans provide you more choices as you are free to choose any type of coverage and premiums you can afford according to your budget.

Self-employed usually apply for an individual health insurance plan. Health insurance for self-employed can be bought at any health insurance company.

Individual health insurance is underwritten individually and your or your family health history is taken into consideration.

Since you have to choose you individual health insurance plan by yourself try to find individual health insurance with adequate benefits. But do not choose the cheapest one. Take care you and members of your family are properly covered.

If you have had a group health insurance that your employer has provided you with you are still eligible for continuation your health insurance plan. Under COBRA (Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985) you can continue your health insurance plan up to 18 months after you leave your job. But you have to pay both the amount you have paid and the amount your employer have paid for you. Your spouse and children are also eligible for COBRA coverage. In case you leave your job and are looking for another one do not hurry to buy a long-term individual health insurance. A short-term individual health insurance may be a better choice.

A lot of people choose private medical insurance. Private medical insurance covers your expenses on private medical treatment for acute conditions (these are a disease or injury that are to respond quickly to treatment). If you buy private health insurance you can be sure that you will receive medical treatment as soon as you need it. You are free to choose when you will be treated, the hospital and the specialist. Private health insurance guarantees that you will have a separate room in the hospital that is complete with comforts.

There are several types of treatment that are covered by private health insurance. They are in-patient treatment (you stay in hospital overnight or longer), day-patient treatment (you go to hospital but do not stay overnight) and out-patient treatment (you still get a treatment in a hospital but do not go for day-patient or in-patient treatment).

Private health insurance coverage usually includes coverage for treatment of acute conditions, in-patient tests, surgery, hospital accommodation and nursing. Find out whether your private health insurance coverage will include out-patient diagnostic tests, out-patient diagnostics and treatment with a professional and overseas cover.