Thursday, October 18, 2012

If you are a freelancer find out ins and outs of individual health insurance


Lots of people dream of working for themselves. Few things sound better than having no boss to answer to, making your own schedule, and even working in your pajamas, if you like. But if you’re making the switch from a steady job to freelancing full-time, you’re also losing some perks. A guaranteed income is the obvious loss, but there’s also vacation pay, sick days, and health insurance. Insurance means you’re covered if an unexpected illness occurs– and unexpected illnesses or injuries can cost thousands of dollars you don’t have. Here are some tips to help you find affordable health insurance as an individual seeking coverage.

Know how much coverage you need. If you are a young, relatively healthy person, you don’t need to purchase as much insurance as someone in their 60′s who is at risk for diabetes. If you want indiviudual health insurance so you’re protected in an emergency, you might want to consider purchasing a plan with a high deductible. The deductible is the amount of money you need to pay before your plan begins to cover the costs. Choosing a plan with a high deductible will considerably decrease your monthly insurance payment.

Know what you need covered. If you take any medications regularly, make sure you get an insurance plan that covers them. A list of all covered drugs is available from the provider. You’ll also want to consider what you may need in the future. For example, if you plan to start a family, make sure the plan you choose has maternity coverage. If you are at risk for a certain disease, make sure the treatments for this condition are included.

Shop around. After you decide how much coverage you need, and you know what, specifically, you need covered it’s time to use that information to find the best combination of cost and coverage. Don’t just choose a plan from the first provider you see. If you want cheap health insurance, you’ll need to compare prices between insurance companies. Every company is different, and every company offers multiple plans. The more quotes you get, the more likely you are to find a great deal that gives you the health insurance you need.


If you are a freelancer find out ins and outs of individual health insurance