| Contrary to popular belief, individual and family health | | | | to obtain the same or similar coverage at a much |
| insurance coverage is almost always more cost | | | | better price. This option entails getting your own |
| effective than employer health insurance plans. Here's | | | | insurance through a private company that offers |
| why: | | | | individual and family health plans in the private market. |
| Employer health insurance (or employer sponsored | | | | These companies can offer similar or the same |
| plans) are offered to full time employees as a benefit | | | | coverage at lower prices. They can do this because |
| for working for the employer. Employer health | | | | they only accept applicants with few or no pre-existing |
| insurance allows employees to get a health plan with | | | | conditions. This means there will be less claims, and the |
| established rates and guaranteed acceptance. | | | | insurance company doesn't have to charge as much in |
| Because employer sponsored plans offer guaranteed | | | | monthly premiums to insure a healthier, pre-screened |
| acceptance, people with pre-existing health conditions | | | | group of individuals/families. This is a great option if you |
| will be accepted. This is a huge benefit of employer | | | | don't have serious pre-existing conditions and don't |
| health insurance. | | | | over-utilize your benefits. |
| The problem is, that in order to pay for the expected | | | | Individual and family health plans are much more cost |
| claims, the insurance company must increase the rates | | | | effective than employer sponsored plans. This is |
| for the entire group. In my home state, they can | | | | almost always true. But, it's not true in these two |
| increase the starting premium (the ones published in | | | | cases. |
| their brochures) 85% if one employee (or more than | | | | - Your employer pays so much of your premium each |
| one) has a serious medical condition like diabetes, or | | | | month that you end up paying less out of pocket for |
| even if one person in the group is pregnant. | | | | your portion of the insurance premium than you would |
| Unfortunately employees who don't utilize their plan | | | | by paying the total premium through a private health |
| much will pay the same increased rates as the | | | | insurance company. |
| employees with pre-existing conditions who need | | | | - You utilize your plan often, have serious pre-existing |
| consistent medical care. | | | | conditions, or cannot obtain health insurance through |
| If you or your family don't have any pre-existing | | | | private companies. |
| medical conditions, there is an options that allows you | | | | |