Individual Health Insurance Plans

Individual Health Insurance is a contract issued by an insurance company to an individual or group, in return of pay for health care reasonably required by the "insured" or "policy holder" to treat illness or injury. It is the type of health coverage that is available to individuals and families, rather than to employer groups or organizations. A particular plan can cover a list of illness and diagnoses types, like for example cancer, bypass surgery, heart attack, kidney failure, major organ transplant, stroke, paralysis, heart-valve replacement surgery, multiple sclerosis, etc. Individual and Family health insurance plans provide long-term protection and comprehensive medical coverage.

There are variety of options with affordable rates. Individual and family health insurance plans are either "indemnity" or "managed-care" plan types. The differences deal with: healthcare providers, out-of-pocket costs and how bills are paid.

Unlike Managed-Care plans, Indemnity plans offer a broader selection of healthcare providers and pay the costs for covered services only after they receive a bill. There are several different types of managed-care health insurance plans, including HMO, PPO, and POS plans

There is no best plan designed for a particular family or individual. One needs to choose the plans judicially considering the following:

1. Whether the need is for long-term coverage or for the short-term?
2. Looking for a basic coverage or more comprehensive coverage?
3. Prefer to pay for services before they are used or at the time of usage?
4. How easy is the access of specialists (doctors) for the user?
5. Any specific doctor or hospital preferred by the individual or family?
6. The maximum sum of money that the user can afford to pay in case of a serious illness or injury.