Need help buying Health Insurance

Mariposa Bella · March 8, 2005

My job is going to give me an allowance to pay for medical insurance, but I am in the dark as to coverages. Is anyone educated on this subject? I need help in finding a good plan, please help.

kellymoos · March 8, 2005

I have Humana Insurance and it cover alot!!! Not sure about an individual plan, mine is through a group plan.

Alexandra · March 8, 2005

Estela, you need to contact a broker who is licensed in your state. Individual insurance is widely variable depending on where you live, and you need to get LOCAL advice.

I'm a broker in New Jersey, where invidual insurance is guaranteed-issue (that is, you can't be turned down for health reasons). I don't know if that's the case where you live, and your being banded just might be an issue. Good luck!!

Edited to add that if your job has a group plan for its employees, THAT'S the plan to get on. There are protections applied to groups that do not apply to individuals and you want to be part of that if you can.

Mariposa Bella · March 8, 2005

There are only two employees in our office and we don't have group coverage (which would be ideal) The other person in the office is also a realtor so she has some sort of coverage for self-employed business persons. Where do I find an insurance broker? Do you think that having the band will be an issue?

Alexandra · March 8, 2005

You can find a broker in the yellow pages easily enough, I'd think. I know in NJ a two-person business is qualified for a group plan even if one person has insurance elsewhere. I honestly don't know what the situation is in Florida.

And having the band would definitely NOT be an issue here, but again, in Florida all the laws may be different. (It's the MOST infuriating thing about insurance, the fact that it's governed by the states and there's no uniformity.)

Mariposa Bella · March 8, 2005

The person in my office is happy with her insurance coberage and does not wish to change, so I have to look for individual coverage. The company will pay my premium, so I won't have any out of pocket expense there. I have located a broker in town, thank you so much for the advice.