Individual Health Insurance HELP

The only difference I have noticed ( and it could be a big/important one) is that individual plans don't cover prenatal care birth and delivery costs at all unless you pay extra as an add on. So only switch if you are done having kids... Or just be prepared....

We've been with Great West (a Cigna company) for about 2 years. $5000 deductible, 80/20 co-insurance, $40 co-pay and decent prescription discount card. First year, my premium was $340. We are a family of four, in our 30's. Second yr, premium increased to $420. Just got my new premium rate of $530! So unfair. I have determined that all the companies will raise your rates yearly and often significantly. Overall, the payments and customer service with Great West have been pretty decent. But I will now have to shop again. I can't afford $100 monthly increase each year. I have just accepted that I will have to shop every 1-3 years for new insurance. Good luck!

I've had several different health insurance plans, both private and group, over the years. This included Blue Cross, Allegiance, Global Health (group), and state covered health insurance. And currently I have the exact same plan you are looking into from Golden Rule. Ironically, the best health insurance that I've found was the state issued health insurance. We no longer qualify to receive it. If you research reviews on all of the available private health insurance carriers you will find that there is approximately a 30% approval rate overall. Meaning that there is no such thing as a good health insurance company. Sad but true. When I held a group plan, my husband was seriously hurt and had to have several surgeries. They approved of the surgeries, then declined payment afterwords. We were left holding a $130,000 medical bill. My job and insurance company told me tuff stuff -you pay it. Well I knew my rights, and after getting a lawyer and suing the ins. co., 3 yrs later (and our credit ruined) they finally paid. I'm telling you this to reiterate that there is no such thing as a 'good' health ins. co. On the point of having Golden Rule, so far so good. My children have had several doctors visits over the winter, they've all been covered. Golden Rule is as good (if not better) than any other insurance company, until you have a major claim. Then all insurance companies bite. Good Luck.

I don't think there is any difference between group and individual honestly. Why do you think its sketchy? I personally have never had complicated insurance plans like you mention with coinsurance ect. I have always had insurance through my employer and then when I got laid off we now buy individual insurance through BCBS. We pay 600 dollars for a family of 3, no office copays and no deductable. I don't have coverage for ambulence, chemo, or prescriptions though. Just make sure you have coverage in case you end up in the hospital as well as office visits and tests. I think your previous plans sounds very high although I am not sure of your age. As long as you add the accident I think you are on a good plan.

I personally like having individual insurance versus the group plan. (I have had both) I have more peace of mind that I can continue my coverage since it is not tied to an employer as long as I continue paying my monthly premium.

My friend has a heart condition so now her husband is stuck working for someone else since they could not get insurance on their own due to a pre existing condition.

I live in PA and have aetna HMO.

First, I second JoAnn's answer about United. I work in dental now, but previously worked for a group of oncologists and they are the worst to deal with for both medical and dental. Second, you didn't say if you work for your friend or not. If you are not working for her and she is letting you "ride" on the plan, she is putting everyone's coverage in jeopardy. If she were to be audited she could potentially lose her coverage with the insurance company.

We did individual coverage through Blue Cross Blue Shield with no problems. I don't think it has anything to do with individual vs group, but finding a good company overall.
You might look into a Health Savings Account. That is what we have now and ours pays 100% of all well-child check ups, immunizations an annual for my husband and an annual well-woman for me. Anything other than that we pay the insurance's adjusted rate with a cap at $2500 annual.

I say STAY AWAY FROM GOLDEN RULE !! My friend switched to them and and when she needed minor surgery they refused and said no she filed all apeals... fast forward to 3 years later she almost died fighting with them to do the surgery.Her minor problem became lifethreating while she fought with them over covering it they never did cover it she ended up having to find another way, all the while they kept collecting her premiums. I say look for another company to insure you. Our daughter is covered by a individual plan with blue cross and blue sheild, so far our only real dislike is she only gets 5 offices visits a year. She is 6 and the when we first signed on she used most of them with in a couple of months go figure she was sick and then fell and split her chin open. other than that they are ok. Good luck !!