Lance Said:

which is the best company to provide affordable individual health insurance? or best way to getting one?

We Answered:

There is no one best company. Companies plans and premiums also vary by state.

Almost all the major health insurance companies are like automobile manufacturers. They both offer a variety of product, from the basic low end model all the way up to the model that's fully loaded with all the options. Of course, the plan with the best coverage will also have a higher premium and may not fall into your definition of affordable.

The best way to find the plan that's best for your situation and budget is to visit a local agent that works with all the major companies. There is no extra charge using an agent.

Sharon Said:

Has anyone here found any quality and affordable individual health insurance?

We Answered:

I’d check out Consumer Reports (link below), America’s Health Plans (link below), and whatever other informational resources you can find. I’d also talk with locally licensed health insurance agents. I’ve also included a couple of articles about choosing a health plan that might be useful. They are government-authored, but they’re actually pretty good.

Affordable can mean what you can pay month-to-month or what can help shield you from a really expensive illness or medical procedure. For example, I’ve spent money on health insurance for over 10 years and have had only two non-routine doctor visits. My sister, on the other hand, has unfortunately had to use her insurance a lot. The bad news is that insurance prices are increasing and fewer and fewer employers are offering it to their workers. The good news is that you have a lot more options in health insurance than you used to. Just remember that the more you pay monthly, the less you’ll pay out-of-pocket before the insurance company picks up the bill. And, of course, the less you pay monthly, the more you’ll pay before the insurance company helps you out.

Two new plans aimed at twentysomethings are popular right now – but you don’t have to be in that age group to join. They are “Tonik” from Blue Cross Blue Shield and “Sound” from UniCare. They have low premiums and high deductibles, but they can also include dental and vision for a relatively low amount of money. Regular doctor visits are also included. In less than two years, Tonik has become the second most popular BCBS health plan in California. The only problem is that they are not available nationwide yet.

You should try visiting MostChoice.com. It’s a Web site that helps you shop for health insurance. They have free instant price quotes and policy information on health plans near you, but their specialty is getting you in touch with state-licensed agents. There’s no cost or obligation to buy insurance. You just fill out a short form and wait for the agents to contact you (within 48 hours). Have your questions ready and let them work until one of them delivers the plan that’s right for you. You might want to have a set amount you want to spend each month on insurance and tell the agents to work within those parameters.

You can find MostChoice here: http://www.mostchoice.com/health-insuran…

Hope this helps,

Barnes @ MostChoice

Loretta Said:

Where can I purchase an affordable individual health insurance policy?

We Answered:

I think you already know that purchasing health insurance is an important project. You need a trusted adviser to help you through the process so that you understand what you are purchasing. Some may suggest going on line to get a quote but there is so much more to the decision than price.

You need to determine how much you will participate in sharing the cost of your health care. This will determine the cost of your health insurance. If you choose a plan that covers everything i.e. doctors office visits, prescription drugs, preventative health benefits, maternity coverage, low deductibles and low copays your monthly premiums will be significant.

On the other hand if you are young and healthy and rarely use the health care system you can choose a plan that covers the major health catastrophe your premiums will be relatively low.

Check with the agent that writes your home, auto or business insurance he/she can provide you valuable advice that takes into account your budget and health situation. If they don't handle health insurance they could refer you to a trusted colleague.

If you want to use the Internet use it to educate yourself but use an agent to purchase the coverage.