Sunday, August 2, 2009

Kentucky Individual Health Insurance: How to Find and Choose a Quality Plan

By Mercus Wirthin

Do you not receive health insurance through your employer? If you do not, you may want to go about acquiring your own health insurance coverage. This type of health insurance is referred to as individual insurance. If you are a Kentucky resident, you will buy Kentucky individual health insurance. The health benefits you receive are paid for and arranged by you, the individual.

At first glance, buying a Kentucky individual health insurance plan seems like a relatively easy task. After doing even just a small amount of research online, you will see that it is not. In fact, the entire process can be rather overwhelming. There are so many different insurance providers to choose from and some have multiple plans available. How can you make your choice? What factors should you consider when doing so?

If you have any known pre-existing conditions. Do you have a long-term medical problem that was diagnosed years ago? If so, this will be considered a pre-existing condition. Although it is commonly assumed that individuals with pre-existing conditions cannot get health insurance, they can. What you want to do is compare rates to ensure you get the best deal, as health insurance can cost more for those with known medical problems. Also, some Kentucky individual health insurance providers have windows of opportunities. If your pre-existing condition was recently diagnosed, it may be able to fly under the radar.

The type of coverage you are looking for. As previously stated, Kentucky individual health insurance comes in different formats. You can find the coverage plan that best fits your needs, but first you must determine what your needs are. What you like to focus on? How about everyday health, like preventative care doctors appointments and prescriptions? Or, would you like to be prepared in the event of an emergency? If so, look for more extensive insurance plans, such as those that cover surgery, emergency medical transport, and long-term hospital stays.

If your current doctor is listed as being in-network. Kentucky individual health insurance providers tend to have a network of doctors that policy holders can see. What if your doctor isnt listed? Are you willing to switch from your long-term primary care physician? If not, you will need to keep looking. If you are dead set against switching doctors, contact your doctors office. Determine which insurance providers they work with and then contact them directly to inquire about cost and coverage.

The number of individuals you are looking to insure on one plan. You will find variances when it comes to describing Kentucky individual health insurance. Some providers will use the phrase individual insurance, to describe anyone buying a plan who isnt a group or individual. On the other hand, some classify it only as one single person seeking insurance. In this case, medical coverage for an entire family would be known as family insurance. If you are looking to ensure your entire family, it will cost more. Just be sure to check the appropriate boxes when requesting your free quote.

In short, you should keep the above mentioned points in mind when looking to buy Kentucky individual health insurance. As an important reminder, dont choose your coverage based solely on price. While it is important to opt for a healthcare plan that you can afford, it is more important to ensure that the plan provides you with adequate medical coverage.

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