Through work: employer-sponsored health insurance. Most states require that an employer enroll a minimum number of employees for coverage in order to purchase and maintain a group health insurance plan. Employer-sponsored health insurance is typically a fee-for-service or managed care plan.
Through school or club: most four-year universities and colleges offer some form of student health insurance. There are also private insurance companies that provide student health insurance to students who cannot acquire health insurance through their college.
Buy your own: in this case, the health plan is “individually purchased.” Individual policies are usually more costly and benefits are usually more limited. Individual health plans are typically fee-for-service or managed care plans. Purchasing a plan on your own may allow you to customize the health plan. To find a health plan that suites your needs, shop online to compare rates.
Starting 2014: Through state insurance exchanges- with the recent health care reform bill passed, state governments will start insurance exchanges where individuals and small businesses can pool together their resources and choose from a list of standardized health care packages.
Tip:Your health plan may come with alternative and complementary health care, which may include fitness club membership, nutrition counseling, smoking cessation clinics, acupuncture, and transcendental meditation. Try to take full advantage of all these.
What do insurers look at when you apply?
When applying for health insurance, whether for an individual or a small group plan, insurers not only need to verify your identity, they estimate the amount of risk that you carry and the likelihood that you will be injured or fall ill. Insurers take the following actions when determining your eligibility and calculate your monthly premium:
Medical underwriting: insurers check your medical background to be sure that you qualify for coverage. This may be illegal in some states.
Risk assessment: you will likely be asked for the following information on your health status and that of any family members who would be covered when applying for health insurance:
Past or current medical conditions
Any pregnancies, medication use or hospitalizations
Alcohol, drug or tobacco use
Whether you have ever been rejected by an insurer
Your age, since health problems tend to increase as the years pass
Height and weight, to see if you would pose a risk due to obesity
Your location, to see if you live in a high-risk area — for example, one that is regularly hit by hurricanes or tornados
Employment information, which can indicate if your occupation is dangerous
Your driving record, which can indicate if you are prone to accidents
Blood, urine or saliva samples
A statement from your doctor regarding your health status
Medical records from your doctors and from any hospital visits
Information verification: to ensure you are telling the truth on your application, many companies consult the MIB Group, a membership association that maintains a database of information about the status of applicants’ health. If you have applied for insurance in the past seven years, the MIB may have records on file describing your medical history.
Pre-existing conditions: when you apply for insurance independently, a pre-existing condition can lead to a higher rate or denial of coverage (unless your state doesn’t allow this).
When applying for health insurance, whether for an individual or a small group plan, insurers not only need to verify your identity, they estimate the amount of risk that you carry and the likelihood that you will be injured or fall ill. Insurers take the following actions when determining your eligibility and calculate your monthly premium:
Through work: employer-sponsored health insurance. Most states require that an employer enroll a minimum number of employees for coverage in order to purchase and maintain a 