Buying health insurance is a very important decision that many people will make in their lives.
However, complicating this matter is the confusion that comes when looking at all the options that are available to them, as well as how to go about buying the best insurance available for them or their family.
There are numerous ways to obtain the right health insurance.
Some of the ways may not be as obvious as others, but it is generally easy.
A common way of obtaining health insurance is through an employer.
Nearly all employers today offer some sort of "group" insurance plan for their employees as an incentive to work for them.
The term "group" simply means there is a lot of people on the plan.
The advantage of this type of plan is that it lowers the costs per employee, which is passed on to the employer.
These sort of plans can cover not only yourself, but also your spouse and immediate family.
Although it costs more to cover your family, being able to cover them in the first place is a huge benefit to your peace-of-mind! If you want to obtain health insurance from your employer (if offered), you should contact the human resources section or whomever is in charge of company benefits.
You can normally buy into a company's group plan at anytime during your employment with the company.
What happens when you leave? If you leave a company who offers group health insurance, you are protected under the COBRA law with your previous employer's health insurance provider.
This will allow you to find a new provider while still being protected.
COBRA is a government act that allows you to continue coverage as was under your previous employer.
However, you need to be aware that it will cost more than what it would if you were working for the previous employer.
This will also apply to your family for a limited period of time.
Unfortunately, there are millions of people in the US who are unable to take part in any group health insurance.
Individual plans are offered by various insurance companies if their current employer doesn't offer group plans.
They also offer plans for people who are self-employed or those who are ineligible for government health insurance, such as Medicaid or Medicare.
The individual plans are generally not that much more expensive than a comparable group plan, and most often can add family members for small additional costs.
Finding an individual insurance plan is not that difficult.
Most health insurance companies will offer individual plans, and searching online for these individual plans has made the search easier.
Some websites even allow you to compare the prices and details of plans.
There is also federal health assistance available as well.
This will depend on your individual circumstances as well as other criteria.
If you are 65 or older or have a disability or condition, you will be eligible for Medicare.
Medicaid is another health insurance program given by the government.
It is based on your income.
In summary, it is very important to be covered regardless of how you do it.
You should research all your options with regards to coverage.
Speaking to a professional to find out all your options for health insurance is also very beneficial.
The decision you make for insurance will not only affect you, but it can also affect your immediate family as well!