Group Vs. Individual Health Insurance

There are Pros and Cons to buying individual health insurance versus accepting your employer group plan. In order for you to make an informative decision we will touch on some of the main pros and cons in this article. By reviewing these pros and cons you should be able to make a decision with confidence that you have thought through thoroughly.

The main reason consumers think about going to individual health insurance through a private health insurance company versus their employer group policy is because of the increasing cost of group premiums. Many times your employer pays a portion or your entire premium, but pays nothing for your dependents.

An individual insurance is based solely on you and your family instead of a group. What this means is that they look very closely at your health condition. If anyone in the family has a health condition it affects the outcome. Rates could increase, condition may not be covered or the insurance company could decline coverage for that individual.

If you are eligible for Group insurance and you have a medical condition then most of the time Group is the favorable option. See where individual insurance can base rates and coverage on you as an individual group can not. They must cover you even if you have a significant health condition.

One of the pro’s to going with individual health coverage is the freedom to choose a plan that suits your needs best. Carriers offer a huge array of different plans for you to choose. They have catastrophic plans, plans that allow office visits for a small fee (co pay) and even tax compatible plans called HSA’s.

How would you like to be told what benefits you will have, which providers you can see and how much your going to pay. With group insurance this is what you get. You do not get the freedom to decide these factors. You can not even add a dependent unless it is the right time of the year.

Employer group policies usually just cover medical. Vision and dental may be offered from your employer, but usually as a separate cost, separate plan and different carrier. With individual health insurance many of the carriers offer bundling. Which means you can have medical, dental and vision in one plan and one rate.

As you can see there are many factors you should ponder before deciding which option is best for you and your family. You should take some time to think about your budget, medical conditions and what is important to you.

Related posts:

1. Individual Health Insurance can save you money
2. Weighing The Options: Group Or Individual Health Insurance?
3. Individual Health Insurance Is Just One Of Many Kinds
4. Group Health Insurance Coverage For Business And Employees
5. Individual Health Insurance Policies Require A Little Finesse

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