Quick Start Guide to Affordable Individual Health Insurance in Ohio
Whether you’re changing your insurance plan in Ohio, or
have just moved there and need a new policy, you’ll need
to know some things about how to get affordable individual health insurance in Ohio.
Health insurance works by having everyone in the system pay into
a pool. even when they’re healthy. That money is then used
to pay for the medical expenses of those members who get sick.
Because of rising health care costs, and other problems, health
insurance premiums have been increasing in recent years. In 2005,
health insurance rates climbed almost seven percent – that’s
twice the rate of inflation that year. These rate increases mean
it’s getting harder to find affordable individual plans
in Ohio and across the country.
Health insurance is a must for everyone.
You never know when illness or sudden accidents are going to
occur, bringing with them disastrous medical bills. The biggest
cause of personal bankruptcy declaration in the United States
is debt relating to medical procedures. To avoid such catastrophe,
it’s important to maintain continuous
health insurance coverage. In Ohio, uninsured people have several
options for getting coverage, in addition to the usual individual
plans that can be purchased from insurance companies. Even people
with pre-existing conditions have the chance to get affordable
insurance, since the Ohio Department of Insurance mandates that
all companies must hold an open enrollment period for these people.
They may be subject to higher rates than other people, but during
this open enrollment period, the insurance companies cannot turn
them down for coverage.
Ohio also offers Medicaid and Healthy Families policies to people
who meet income and eligibility criteria, as well as the Best
RX program - a discount program that covers prescription drugs
for older residents who have low incomes. Residents under 60 can
also qualify for this program if they have very low incomes. In
addition to these programs, Ohio residents can look for individual
plans using the Internet. Many insurance companies maintain web
sites that will give out personalized quotes almost instantly.
You can easily get the information you need to obtain an individual
insurance policy this way.
Be sure to check up on the backgrounds
and customer ratings of any company you find this way, particularly
ones that do not operate in the state of Ohio. Some consumer
protection laws may not apply to out of state companies, which
could leave you vulnerable to rate increases and other problems.
You can easily find industry watchdogs and consumer information
that will tell you what people think of prospective insurance
providers and how well they are rated. It’s important to be able to rely on your insurance
provider to take care of you when a medical emergency strikes.
With a little work, it’s easy to find an individual insurance
plan that will fit your needs and budget, whether you qualify
for one of the state-assisted plans or decide to go with a mainstream
insurance provider.