Finding low cost health insurance in the Commonwealth of Virginia does not mean you have to be eligible for a group health insurance plan through your employer, nor does it mean you have to qualify for Medicaid or state-sponsored health care services. Virginia residents in search of affordable health care can purchase individual health insurance plans.

Because individual health insurance plans can be expensive – which isn’t exactly the equivalent of “low cost” – you want to make sure you are getting exactly your money’s worth. Take these tips into consideration when shopping for an individual health insurance plan in the Commonwealth of Virginia:

o Make sure the health carriers and insurance agents selling individual health insurance policies are licensed to sell health insurance in Virginia – if you purchase health insurance from a company or agent not licensed to do business in Virginia, you will find it difficult to obtain protection against fraud.

o Don’t lie and don’t risk it. If you know a particular health insurance company won’t insure you because of a pre-existing medical condition, don’t lie about that condition in order to get low cost health insurance. You’ll only be cheating yourself, because you still won’t have coverage for the health issue. Wouldn’t you rather feel safe in knowing you’re covered should complications arise?

o Don’t give up. If one health insurance company denies you medical coverage, move on to the next company. Each individual health insurance company follows different standards and criteria for offering health insurance – whatever the price. Just because you are not eligible for one company’s policy does not mean you will not be eligible for another company’s policy.

Many people cringe when they think about purchasing an individual health insurance policy; however, by shopping around and being honest with several different health carriers and insurance agents in the Commonwealth of Virginia, you will find the low cost health insurance plan that is right for you.

By: Elizabeth Newberry

Indiana residents have several options available to them when considering individual or family health insurance plans. There are several carriers offering coverage including Aetna, Assurant, Anthem, American Community, Humana, and United Health Care. With so many choices and plan options, health insurance shoppers should consider using an experienced agency or broker to help narrow down their options.

You Might Need Help Finding a Plan

Often times it is helpful to speak to an independent agent when searching for a health insurance plan. You might have questions about maternity coverage, short term health insurance, dental insurance, preventive care benefits, office co-pay plans, student insurance, or prescription drug coverage. Health insurance policies come in all shapes and sizes and not all plans offer the same types of benefits to the insured.

Plans Available in Indiana

In most cases, consumers are simply in search of affordable coverage. All insurance companies will offer high deductible, catastrophic coverage for those operating on a tight budget. And many of these plans will offer benefits without the insured having to reach the deductible first.

Those who desire the peace of mind associates with low deductible, comprehensive coverage will also have several plans to choose from. Consumers who purchase these types of plans will have very little to pay out of pocket should they have a claim against their policy.

Additionally, all policies will have a large network or doctors and hospitals for the insured to choose from. Most carriers have networks that expand out of Indiana to include the entire United States. Consumers will always save by using the network affiliated doctors and hospitals associates with their insurance carrier.

Health Savings Accounts (HSA Plans)

Health savings accounts and high deductible health insurance plans are a popular alternative to traditional health coverage. Typically, HSA’s are less expensive than traditional plans. Consumers who purchase this coverage will own a savings account they draw from for health related expenses. Funds deposited in a HSA are tax deductible, will grow tax deferred, and when withdrawn for a qualified medical expense are tax free. The accumulated funds always belong to the insured. Should the owner discontinue their insurance plan, they keep the funds in their HSA for themselves.

By: Adam Hyers

In Illinois, 1.4 million adults do not have health insurance. And this number is expected to rise as insurance costs go up and businesses reduce or drop insurance benefits. So where can you find low cost health insurance in Illinois?

Explore Your Options

Many Illinois residents are fortunate enough to get adequate health insurance through their employers. However, if you’re unemployed or your company doesn’t offer health insurance you can still get coverage:

* If you left a job that offered health insurance or your employer dropped your health insurance benefits, look into COBRA coverage. COBRA offers you coverage under your former employer’s health insurance plan for a few months at your own cost.

* Look into Illinois Covered, the state health insurance program. This program helps with health care and insurance costs for a variety of Illinoisans, including children, low-income residents, uninsured adults, businesses, and middle-class families.

* Group insurance from an organization. If you buy health insurance through an organization such as your college alumni group or a professional group, you may be able to qualify for a lower group rate.

* Buy an individual health insurance plan. This may be the most expensive option, but it also offers the most choices, as many types of individual plans are available: comprehensive coverage, major medical coverage, emergency coverage, short-term coverage, PPOs, HMOs, and POSs.

Finding a Low Cost Illinois Health Insurance Policy

If you decide to buy an individual health insurance plan, an insurance comparison website is the best place to find a low cost policy. On these sites you spend a few minutes completing a form with information about yourself and your health insurance needs. Once you complete the form you’ll receive health insurance quotes from multiple A-rated insurance companies.

The best websites also let you talk with insurance professionals via an online chat service so you can ask questions and make sure you get the best health insurance plan for you (see link below).

By: Brian Stevens