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In today’s economy, there is very little job security. Unfortunately, one of the secondary effects of losing your job is that you lose your health coverage as well. Thankfully there are programs in place that can extend your health coverage for up to 18 months following a termination, career change, or even retirement.

COBRA insurance was enacted into a law to protect you from losing your healthcare in scenarios such as getting fired or laid off. Officially known as the Consolidation Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act, it is designed to provide medical insurance coverage for employees and their families even after they’ve severed ties with their employer. People must also understand that COBRA is a law, not an insurance package.

Before COBRA medical insurance was enacted to cover medical needs of terminated employees, the group health plans of terminated workers and those who changed employers were immediately cancelled. With the advent of COBRA insurance, employees who have been fired or laid off will receive 18 months of medical coverage of the same health insurance policies their employers gave them.

However, the benefits of COBRA medical insurance are available only as a group plan and not as individual health coverage. You need to be a part of a health plan group of 20 or more employees for you to be eligible to apply for COBRA medical insurance policies.

The Price of COBRA Health Insurance

The price of a COBRA policy is also significantly higher than the total price of the medical insurance policy bought by your employer. The total cost of a COBRA insurance package is the total amount of your group healthcare plan plus 2% administrative fees. COBRA is more expensive than other group plans, but also provides peace of mind knowing that your family or individual health coverage plan is extended to cover you or your family in case of emergencies or severe health issues.

What makes COBRA unique from other forms of medical and health insurance plans is that COBRA will continue to cover any pre-existing medical conditions that were approved and covered by your original health plan. If you happen to be afflicted with a medical condition, COBRA will cover these conditions. Other health insurance providers may not cover pre-existing conditions, potentially leaving major conditions to go untreated.

Why COBRA is a Wise Choice

There are many reasons why applying for COBRA is a wise decision. Apart from the fact that you are medically insured and covered for a period of 18 months after leaving your job, you can maintain all the benefits you once received from the same health plan insurer you had before you left your job. As mentioned before, COBRA covers any pre-existing or recent medical problems, which may not be the case with other health insurance companies.

If you lose your job and rely heavily on your health insurance plan for sharing the cost of expensive medications, applying for a COBRA policy is an excellent choice. COBRA covers the cost of prescription drugs, as well as other services such as maternity benefits and accident insurance.

Since many individuals cannot afford the COBRA option offered by their employers, there are COBRA alternatives that are designed for people who are in good health and with no pre-existing medical condition and do not need to take expensive medication. These alternatives come in the form of individual and family health plans.

While COBRA provides an opportunity for individuals to retain health care insurance, individual health coverage plans are much more reasonable as it pertains to cost.

The best thing you can do is to research your health insurance coverage options before you decide on the best health plan. It is important to make a wise decision since this health plan may be with you for a while!

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Texas leads the country in the number of people without Texas health insurance. Although nearly one in five Americans, are not insured, it is estimated that one in three Texans are uninsured. In Texas Medical Association report, “additional 5.5 million Texans - including 1.4 million children - lack health insurance”.

In a report published by the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, “The uninsured are a diverse group that includes people who cannot afford private health insurance, working in small businesses that do not ‘ insurance, who simply choose not to buy health insurance, even if they can afford it, who are eligible - not registered - government-sponsored programs such as in Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Plan (CHIP), and recent immigrants.

The most notable omission from these reports is that it is often difficult for people to navigate the selection of Texas get health insurance. There are a multitude of choices and decisions. Do I get an individual or family coverage? Should I go with a health organization (HMO), preferred provider organization (PPO) or another type of plan? What kind of deductible should I choose?

The task to find Texas health insurance is even more daunting because, as you move from a health insurance company to another, you find that each offers a different set of options. Accordingly, it is difficult to compare apples with apples proverbial.

Most people do not realize that a full-service agency based in Texas health insurance can help every one of individuals and families to small business owners and Medicare beneficiaries understand the options that are their disposal to obtain insurance. Better still, these agencies offer their services and free support. It is because they are compensated by insurance companies, rather than the insured. Therefore, you can collect the benefits of their expertise impartial, free of charge.

Best of all, some of these agencies have implemented easy to use online systems that allow you to obtain quotes, compare Texas health insurance plans and even apply online - all from the comfort your home. In fact, you can view the plans of health insurance, life insurance, dental plans, health insurance plans and all in one place.

To obtain quotes for health insurance, for example, simply enter your details into an online form, and then provide some basic information about you and other family members you wish to insure. The system will then generate quotations from a variety of companies, which allows you to compare side by side. You can sort the results by a number of factors, including the health insurance company, plan type, deductible, co-payment, and the estimate of the premium. Once you decide which plan you prefer, you can apply online.

Every day, health insurance is a growing number of people with affordable health insurance Texas. In return, those who obtain health insurance rest easier know that their families and they are protected.

A Family Health insurance offers you medical coverage and various health care benefits in case of unforeseen circumstances. The family health insurance and coverage takes into account the entire health care expenses and long-term nursing or custodial care requirements. To ensure the security of your family, it is imperative that you choose the right health insurance coverage.

Whether you are looking for family health insurance coverage or group health insurance coverage, opt for policies that provide optimum health care benefits at affordable premiums. The health care premium plays an important role while deciding on a health insurance. But always give importance to health insurance benefits and coverage.

The leading health insurance companies today offer group health insurance and family health insurance coverage with affordable premiums. With increasing heath care costs and greater awareness, people are now buying health insurance like never before. To make the most of this huge scope, the insurance companies are concocting various innovative health insurance plans, such as the floater concept and optimum tax saving plans.

The floater insurance is ideal for family’s health care needs. It covers the entire family under one insurance policy and one premium. The benefits/ coverage are shared by all the members of the family.

With so many plans in the market, it is important you choose the one that suits you the best wisely. Compare the rates and premiums at which these insurance policies are offered. Also compare the coverage and benefits included. Choose the health insurance plan that satisfies all your health care needs at the best premium. Also check for other benefits, offers or discounts available along with the health insurance plans. These may include free health check up or easy payment facilities.

Apart from affordable premiums, most of the health insurance companies offer a family health insurance plan on a cashless basis. Under cashless settlement of claims, the insurance company pays off the health care institute or hospital directly. Thus, you get the benefit of handling your finances and saving better. The insurance companies offer a range of insurance policies that differ in their extent of coverage. The premium also varies accordingly.

A basic family health insurance coverage includes costs of medical care and treatment of ailments and accidents that need hospitalization. Some insurance companies also offer critical illness coverage. Family health insurance plans also include benefits of tax exemption as stated under Section 80D of the Income Tax Act.

Health care is one of the most important components in your life. Disease or illness can really mean a down turn in your life. The biggest asset we can have in life therefore is health. Health care is normally defined as the management or treatment of any health problem through the services that might be offered by medical, nursing, dental or any other related service. When you talk about the care of health, you are talking of all goods and services that are produced to improve on your health. They may be curative, preventative or even palliative solutions. A system of health care is one that is organized to give health services to a population or a group of people.

Health care can be for an individual or for a large group of people depending on how the systems are organized. Importance of health care cannot be overemphasized. In society, people are worried about the kinds of systems there are, to deal with issues of health. In developed countries, their systems are designed to cater for all people; whether poor or rich. However, the systems are lacking in regard to flaws. In developing countries, people usually take care of health as an individual thing and, if you do not have enough money, you might not get access to quality care. There are so many disparities and, some systems in certain countries are becoming worse; not able to deal with demand of health. Health is not a cheap affair, you have to have a good system if you want it to work for you. Governments have the responsibility to create or formulate policies that will favor people in this regard. Good systems of health can be erected by the top most leadership of a state.

The importance of good health care can be seen in the hopes of a people who are yearning for health. To become rich or to produce something in life, you have to have that ability or strength. If you are sick, you are likely not to develop yourself in any way. Therefore health is wealth and this is the biggest lesson that we can learn today. When you are in good health, you will be a happy person and enthusiastic about the business of life. Sickly people will dread every moment of their pain and, they are not able to have joy and peace. When it comes to preventative health care like the use of vaccinations, we are going ahead of time and making sure that you are safe from future illnesses. When it comes to prevention of pregnancy as part of care for health, we are able to structure our lives an take control. However, measures such as abortions are pretty controversial.

However, those countries that have legalized abortion need to ensure that people who choose to undergo it are safe and protected. Good health care will give rise to a generation that is ready to take on the world. Diseases have a way of making the future look very deem. For example, the spread of the AIDS virus has really dealt a huge blow on this generation. Proper care is beginning to be felt in many corners of the world especially areas where it is rampant like sub Saharan Africa. Therefore, make sure that no matter whether you are and individual or a group, you prioritize on health. Investing in good care for health is investing in life.

Finding affordable Texas health insurance is not an easy task, unless you are employed by a company that offers a range of health benefits. Unfortunately, not everyone works, or works for an employer who offers health insurance to its employees. If you or your spouse does not have affordable health insurance in San Antonio, Texas, how your child is supposed to obtain affordable child health insurance? Imagine trying to find children and affordable health insurance for your child if you have difficulty in finding affordable health insurance for yourself.

If you live in San Antonio, Texas, or anywhere in Texas for that matter, and have a child or children who are without adequate health insurance, you want May to examine Medicaid for Texas Children. Texas Medicaid for children is both a state and federal aid program for children with excellent comprehensive health insurance at affordable prices or at no charge at all. To be eligible for Medicaid for Texas Children, a child must be a resident of the United States and Texas, less than 19 years. The family of the child applying for Medicaid for Texas Children must meet the Medicaid of Texas Children income requirements.

There are people who May not qualify for special programs for low income and at the same time, it is very difficult to pay for traditional health insurance. If you’re one of those people, you will receive a discount medical card. So what are they?

A discount medical card is eligible to receive a network of physicians who have agreed to card carriers for medical services at a lower rate. They are generally not affiliated with any insurance company. They are much in May for those who have pre-existing health conditions that excluding more plan or make it very difficult for them to get affordable prices. There is no exclusion for any reason. All you have to do is pay a monthly subscription and you can enjoy the services of a network of health care providers at a reduced rate.

For those who have pre-existing conditions that make it difficult or too costly for them to get private health care, the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (COBRA) insurance should also provide more affordable individual coverage.

Finally, everyone can get more affordable rates for health insurance for Texas or the state in which they live, if they shop right for her. Here’s how …

Take the time to visit at least three sites online. This will take you about 15 minutes (Some people have information that is not quite true about them. It is not wise. Giving false information will produce misleading results). You can easily get more affordable rates for health insurance only by choosing the lowest price for many awards back.

If a child belongs to a family that receives temporary assistance to needy families, also called TANF, the child will be immediately eligible for Medicaid for Texas Children. Otherwise, the child’s eligibility is determined by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, also known as HHSC. If a child is found to be eligible for Medicaid for Texas Children, family, the financial situation of May to be evaluated every six months or so as to ensure that the child is still eligible.

For more information on Texas Medicaid for children in the program, visit the Texas Department of Insurance Web site, or give them a call. You can also visit the website of the Texas Health and Human Services System.

The field of medicine has made impressive advancements both in the diagnosis and treatment of most diseases. But, the soaring prices of health insurance plans make it difficult for low-income wage earners. They claim that getting a health insurance policy is out of their reach.

However, health insurance has been made mandatory by law in California. The need for health insurance both for families and individuals is critical as health insurance provides timely financial security to the insured during sudden medical emergencies. The state of California has a plethora of health insurance companies engaged in fierce competition to provide quality service to its customers. As a result the consumers are the beneficiaries as they can obtain the best plans at the most affordable prices.

Every state in the U.S. has its own health insurance regulatory board to oversee and regulate the practices of insurance providers within their jurisdiction. In the state of California, they aim to provide affordable health insurance outreach programs particularly to medium and low income wage earners. Health insurance laws in California are rigidly enforced.

The Medicaid program was created specifically for low wage earners in California to provide affordable health insurance coverage to the maximum number of uninsured individuals. This insurance outreach program is funded by both the federal and the state governments. There is yet another advantage as some employers do not include the families of employees in their insurance coverage. Such employees can avail of the Medicaid program if they want to include their families in their insurance coverage. Applicants are required to furnish some documents that may include proofs of their employment and income. They will also be subjected to a credit check to qualify.

For those residing in California, there are various health insurance providers with a variety of health plans to choose from. But you will have to do some research to find the health coverage that will be best suited for you and your family. Individual health insurance plans in California that are directly purchased by the individuals are certainly more expensive than group insurance. Family health insurance plans, as the name implies, includes the applicant and all the family members in its coverage. There is a California health insurance coverage that is best suited for you and your family in the event of unforeseen medical expenses. You have to exercise discretion and do proper research to find the best affordable health insurance you need.

Owing to the growing number of immigrants coming into the state of California, the number of uninsured individuals is steeply rising. It was due to this factor that the California Health Insurance Act was passed in 2003 to provide the largest possible number of workers and their families with affordable health insurance coverage.

There are health insurance policies galore in California and most of them are regulated by the California Department of Insurance and you have to select the one from many different kinds, depending upon your needs, budget and health care requirements. Some of the policies are: Indemnity Policies (Traditional Fee-for-Service Insurance), Preferred Provider Organizations (PPOs), Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs or Managed Care), Self-Insured Health Plans (Single Employer Self-Insured Plans) and Multiple Employer Welfare Arrangements (MEWAs). There are also special policies like: Major Risk Medical Insurance Program (MRMIP), Healthy Families Program (HFP), Access for Infants and Mothers Program (AIM), Pacific Health Advantage (PacAdvantage), and other Supplemental Health Insurance Policies.

Lately the price of health care has risen significantly. Because of this, the demand for less expensive health insurance plans increase everyday. Less expensive health plans are what people are looking for. However, these plans provide restricted services.

Cheaper health coverage plans involve the cost of doctors’ visit, medicines, hospital stay and other medical costs. Doctor visits and prescription costs are not covered by some health plans available. Therefore, individuals need to ensure that, they select the right policy that provides all the basic coverage.

Family health plans are a low cost health insurance program. This will cost you less than an individual’s health policy.

To receive inexpensive health insurance plans, people may have to sacrifice a few things they have always loved to do. The first step is to compare the quotes given by different insurance companies. The lowest price is often only a few clicks away via the internet.

Compared to the monthly premium option, yearly premium payments offers the best value in health coverage. Many insurers claim that monthly payment is more comfortable. However, a person has to pay more for this scheme. Under this plan, some transaction tax is needed when processing checks.

Twelve separate transactions are necessary for a schedule that allows you to pay each month. Only one check is required in an yearly payment scheme. There is only one payment per year. Certain administrative and service rates with monthly premiums increase the cost of this payment.

You never know if you are going to get a serious health condition in the years to come. Buying inexpensive health insurance is a good way to avoid potential problems in the future. Age and health of a person, are the two important factors that determine the rate of medical plans.

The selection of group health insurance is a long-term plan. It is a great choice if it is associated with an organization or club. A member of an organization gets affordable health insurance programs. A viable choice is an association or other group. Different credit card firms offer association group health insurance policies, which are of low cost.

Some consumers might prefer looking into private health insurance, if money is a particular concern. For instance, a 30 year old man living in Texas who is in good health might spend just $37 monthly for a private plan. National employees with individual coverage pay $250 more each year.

But the thing is that you require a lot of time to buy cheaper private insurance.

Check for state run programs that offer cheaper health insurance. Women and children have better odds of obtaining coverage. For example, a pregnant woman in California, who makes up to $63,000 per year, can qualify for health care through Medicare.

More people are retiring before the age of 65. It is necessary to be 65 years of age to qualify for government health insurance US Medicare. Retired people,should check with their last employer to see if it includes health insurance. Higher premiums may apply to retired people. It is less expensive than buying health insurance yourself.

Almost everyone right now is looking for the best deals that they can find in every aspect of their lives. Everyone wants to save money. People are especially concerned about finding affordable health insurance. Where should they look however? Most people would look to the Internet as the best place or information. Some would rather rely on word of mouth. Most people need to go through their company however.

The Internet can be a great place to look for affordable health insurance. One has tons of information quite literally at their fingertips. It can be hard to sort through all the information though. Also factual information is often clouded by adds. One may find him or herself searching for hours for the right information. Just because a few companies are the first ones to appear in a search does not mean that they are offering the best rates. It takes a lot of research. One also runs the risk of running into fake insurance sites or worse. However if one does find a respectable site, that lets you even compare to find the most affordable health insurance, then looking online has paid off.

Since looking online can be such an ordeal, many people rely on word of mouth. There are problems with that as well though. For instance, although your friend may have had a really good experience with their health insurance, it may not be the right insurance for you. It may not even be affordable health insurance at all. Health insurance companies like to take a person’s medical history into consideration when giving a quote after all. Another problem with relying on word of mouth is that it does not get a full spectrum of information. There are all sorts of health insurance companies out there. The most affordable health insurance plan for you could be with any of them and your friends may not have ever heard of what you really need.

Most people need to rely on their companies to choose what health insurance they get. Companies are hopefully being well informed about what different plans are out there. A person really needs to rely on him or herself in life though, and one should make sure that what his or her employer is choosing is really the most affordable health insurance for his or her employees. Employers after all also need to get their information from somewhere. In fact for some companies, it may be just the way to move higher in the company. An employee that goes the extra mile to find the most affordable health insurance for the company is definitely showing his or her value. That can be an important thing in this economy.

Almost everyone right now is looking for the best deals that they can find in every aspect of their lives. Everyone wants to save money. People are especially concerned about finding affordable health insurance. Where should they look however? Most people would look to the Internet as the best place or information. Some would rather rely on word of mouth. Most people need to go through their company however.

The Internet can be a great place to look for affordable health insurance. One has tons of information quite literally at their fingertips. It can be hard to sort through all the information though. Also factual information is often clouded by adds. One may find him or herself searching for hours for the right information. Just because a few companies are the first ones to appear in a search does not mean that they are offering the best rates. It takes a lot of research. One also runs the risk of running into fake insurance sites or worse. However if one does find a respectable site, that lets you even compare to find the most affordable health insurance, then looking online has paid off.

Since looking online can be such an ordeal, many people rely on word of mouth. There are problems with that as well though. For instance, although your friend may have had a really good experience with their health insurance, it may not be the right insurance for you. It may not even be affordable health insurance at all. Health insurance companies like to take a person’s medical history into consideration when giving a quote after all. Another problem with relying on word of mouth is that it does not get a full spectrum of information. There are all sorts of health insurance companies out there. The most affordable health insurance plan for you could be with any of them and your friends may not have ever heard of what you really need.

Most people need to rely on their companies to choose what health insurance they get. Companies are hopefully being well informed about what different plans are out there. A person really needs to rely on him or herself in life though, and one should make sure that what his or her employer is choosing is really the most affordable health insurance for his or her employees. Employers after all also need to get their information from somewhere. In fact for some companies, it may be just the way to move higher in the company. An employee that goes the extra mile to find the most affordable health insurance for the company is definitely showing his or her value. That can be an important thing in this economy.

Switching from group to individual health insurance is a change many people are currently facing. There can be some big differences between the two types of insurance and their cost. Becoming familiar with some of those basic differences will help you to know what to expect. Group health insurance Group health insurance is purchased by your employer from a health insurance company. Everyone who is eligible can receive coverage under the plan. Group health insurance is less costly than individual health insurance, because you have the buying power of the group. The insurance company bases the premium upon a calculation of how much insurance the group as a whole will use. However, if you are buying individual health insurance, the calculation of your premium is not based on a group, it’s based on you alone. That is why individual health insurance can be so expensive. Individual health insurance Individual health insurance is health insurance that you purchase from an insurance company on your own, and not through an employer. You can choose coverage for either yourself or your self and your family, individual policies often provide less coverage than group policies do. Under an individual plan, some services such as substance abuse treatment may not be covered. Another important difference between group and individual health insurance is that with group insurance, the law requires the insurance company to cover everyone who works for that employer. With individual health insurance, companies are not required to issue you a policy. This can be very alarming for people who have pre-existing conditions. If you have recently lost your job, it can be surprising to find out that even though you have been covered under a group plan, there is no assurance that you will be able to obtain individual health insurance coverage. In some states, health insurance companies are allowed to issue policies to people with pre-existing conditions, but they are issued with an exclusionary rider. That means that any services for the pre-existing condition are not covered. Each state has its own laws overseeing how individual health insurance is administered. Therefore, plans can very a great deal from state to state. Plans can also vary from one insurance company to another. Be sure to check around and compare quotes and plans from several different companies before making a decision. COBRA as an option One of the first options presented to people who have lost their health insurance coverage is COBRA. COBRA stands for the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act and it allows you to continue on your employer’s health insurance plan for up to 18 months after losing your job. However, there are several situations in which employees would not be eligible for COBRA coverage such as, if the company employed less than 20 people and went out of business, or if it dropped its group health insurance or went into bankruptcy. One of the drawbacks of COBRA is the expense. Under COBRA you have to pay the entire amount of your health insurance coverage. Whereas when you were employed, your employer paid a portion of your benefits. One recent development that will be beneficial to COBRA recipients is that after March 1, 2009 recipients will only have to pay 35% of the cost of the monthly premium and the federal government will pay the remainder for up to nine months. If you have recently lost your group health insurance, switching to individual health insurance will cause the cost of your health insurance to increase. Understanding the different types of insurance and how they work, will help you to prepare. If you have pre-existing conditions and are concerned about finding individual health insurance coverage, investigate COBRA and find out if it is an option. Also, check with several different health insurance companies and compare the costs before you make a decision.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor recently reported that employment continued to fall sharply in February (-651,000), and the unemployment rate rose from 7.6 to 8.1 percent. Payroll employment has declined by 2.6 million in the past 4 months. In February, job losses were large and widespread across nearly all-major industry sectors. Are you or your spouse one of the 8.1% Are you worried about joining this group? If you own a small business or are thinking about starting that small business then you need to understand how COBRA can have a dramatic impact on your financial future. Here are 7 things you need to know right now!

1. What is COBRA continuation health coverage? Congress passed the landmark Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) health benefit provisions in 1986. The law amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, the Internal Revenue Code and the Public Health Service Act to provide continuation of group health coverage that otherwise might be terminated.

2. What does COBRA do? COBRA provides certain former employees, retirees, spouses, former spouses, and dependent children the right to temporary continuation of health coverage at group rates. This coverage, however, is only available when coverage is lost due to certain specific events. Group health coverage for COBRA participants is usually more expensive than health coverage for active employees, since usually the employer pays a part of the premium for active employees while COBRA participants generally pay the entire premium themselves.

3. Who is entitled to benefits under COBRA? There are three elements to qualifying for COBRA benefits. COBRA establishes specific criteria for plans, qualified beneficiaries, and qualifying events:

Qualifying Events for Employees:

Voluntary or involuntary termination of employment for reasons other than gross misconduct

Reduction in the number of hours of employment

Qualifying Events for Spouses:

Voluntary or involuntary termination of the covered employee’s employment for any reason other than gross misconduct

Reduction in the hours worked by the covered employee

Covered employee’s becoming entitled to Medicare

Divorce or legal separation of the covered employee

Death of the covered employee

Qualifying Events for Dependent Children:

Loss of dependent child status under the plan rules

Voluntary or involuntary termination of the covered employee’s employment for any reason other than gross misconduct

Reduction in the hours worked by the covered employee

Covered employee’s becoming entitled to Medicare

Divorce or legal separation of the covered employee

Death of the covered employee
 

4. How does a person become eligible for COBRA continuation coverage?
To be eligible for COBRA coverage, you must have been enrolled in your employer’s health plan when you worked and the health plan must continue to be in effect for active employees. COBRA continuation coverage is available upon the occurrence of a qualifying event that would, except for the COBRA continuation coverage, cause an individual to lose his or her health care coverage.

5. What Do I do if I Don’t Want To Take COBRA? Group Health Plans are very benefit rich. This means that you probably have dental, vision, low co-pays for doctor visits etc. Things you take for granted. Your employer if often paying 80% or more of your premium and your portion of the premium is just 20% or less. You don’t realize the true cost of your health plan until you qualify for COBRA and get that letter from your HR Department that gives you STICKER SHOCK. Why? Because you see that your new monthly premium could be up to 400% more that what was being pulled out of your paycheck. What do you do? You get on the computer and start looking for Health Insurance quotes and see a lot of quotes that look appealing as an alternative but you are comparing apples and oranges.

Here are three main points that are not clear when you look at these computer quotes

First of all, Group Plans in Georgia are “guarantee issued” which means that everyone MUST be accepted. Individual plans go through an underwriting process, so you have to qualify and may not be accepted.

Most insurance carriers usually decline major pre-existing conditions like diabetes, cancer and heart disease. Minor pre-existing conditions like weight, high blood pressure and elevated cholesterol etc. are rated up which means you’re charged more. This underwriting process can take up to a month, if done properly.

Also many of the benefits you take for granted on your benefit rich group plan are extras or “riders” with individual policies that increase your premium.

So what are my alternatives if I just lost my job?
6. How Does The American Recovery and Reinvestment Tax Act of 2009 affect COBRA and save me more money? The Act provides a 65% government subsidy to employees who are involuntarily terminated between September 1, 2008 and December 31, 2009. The premium reduction relates only to premiums for the coverage period beginning after the new law was enacted on February 17, 2009. The law does not allow reimbursement of premiums for coverage periods beginning before February 17, 2009. Qualified individuals can, however, receive the premium subsidy going forward, for up to nine months. So if you are already on COBRA you can get this subsidy for up to nine months. Also if you declined COBRA during this period, you can now enroll in the subsidized coverage. This a great deal if you are planning on finding another job that will provide Group Health Insurance because you only have to pay 35% of the COBRA costs and can keep your benefit rich coverage for up to 18 months.
BUT……
What If you are planning to focus on your business full time now, rather than get another job? Then you really need to look much closer at individual plans.

7. How does buying your own portable individual health plan protect your financial future? Let me tell you a story about how one of the most financially savvy guys I know got the surprise of this life after riding his bike one day in Florida. I lived in South Florida and played tennis with a friend who retired from a Fortune 100 Company when he was 49 years old. After many years of hard work he took early retirement and built his dream home in Florida. After several years his wife became bored and wanted to move to Atlanta. They bought into one of the most prestigious new developments in metro Atlanta. Six months after construction began my friend was riding his bike and got shortness of breath. He called a tennis buddy and neighbor who was also a cardiologist and the doctor said, “Come to my office and let me check you out”. The cardiologist sent him straight to the hospital and discovered that one of my friend’s coronary arteries was narrowed and a “heart stent” was inserted to relieve the condition. Within a few days my friend was busy playing tennis and riding his bike. Thinking about his upcoming move to Georgia, my friend decides to call his Health Insurance Company to move his plan from Florida. Mind you this was not some fly-by-night company but one of the best-recognized names in the insurance industry today! You can imagine his surprise when this insurance company told him that he was “UNINSURABLE” in the state of Georgia. What happened? When he retired my friend elected COBRA and when he moved to Florida took an individual plan in Florida. He assumed that because the insurance company had such a big name that is was a national company but it WAS NOT so he could not get health insurance, at any price, in Georgia because he had this MAJOR pre-existing condition of heart disease.
You might be subject to similar consequences or worse if you get sick or have a major accident during the period you’re on COBRA. To avoid this type of situation or worse you need to work with a licensed Health Agent who specializes in Small Business Entrepreneurs.