Individual Health Insurance: What to Look For

Shopping around for individual health insurance can be overwhelming and confusing. Fortunately, health care reform is working to make the process simpler and more straight forward. They want to make comparing plans side by side easier for the consumer, but this could take years before it's fully implemented. Until then, Marketwire.com has a news release from GoHealthInsurance which outlines some of the most important factors you should be looking for in a health insurance policy.

The first item discussed is the deductible. Notice if there is one and if it is reasonably priced. Next, understand if the policy has providers in-network or out-of-network. Also, be sure that preventative care is free since this will eventually be required by health care reform. Look for key coverages which include dental, vision, prescription drug and maternity care. It's crucial you fully comprehend the variety of charges on different services so that you are not surprised when it's time to pay the bill. It's easy to get swooped into an inexpensive policy, then when services are used you are hit with a huge bill you cannot afford.

Only you can weigh the importance between quality benefit and the monthly premium, but be sure to take a close look at your true health needs. Just because you are healthy now, or have never used the health care system, it does not mean that you won't need it in the future. Having the basic benefits to suit your specific needs is going to make your individual health insurance policy work for you.