Product Overview > Individual Plans > Medical

If there is no way for you to qualify to enroll on group health plan or association health plan in your market area----you will need to purchase individual medical insurance "on your own".

A variety of personal circumstances create the need for a person to purchase individual medical insurance:

• Exhaust COBRA coverage from previous employment
  
• Start out in a new business with no other employees yet
  
• Current employer does not offer group health plan
  
• Do not work enough hours to qualify for employer’s group health plan
  
• No access to health insurance through spouse’s employer
  
• Cannot qualify for government aid programs
  

The market for individual medical plans is more limited in scope compared to group health plans. Not every group insurance carrier actively participates in the individual medical insurance market. While some insurance carriers offer a variety of plan designs to choose from, most lack the attractive features of a group health plan ie coverage for prescription drugs.

Why is this coverage important?

For people concerned with personal wellness, a lack of health insurance plan may result in unintended consequences of not seeking needed medical attention for fear of the future cost of the recommended treatments. Manageable health issues can develop into chronic health problems and may result in a person becoming ineligible to purchase medical and related insurance coverage in the future.

Consider these issues to discuss with your Kistler Tiffany Benefits representative when reviewing your individual medical insurance options:

• Which insurance carriers offer plans in my home zip code?
• How are the premiums determined?
• How often can the premiums be changed?
• Can my request for coverage could be declined?
• Does my policy cover pre existing health conditions?
• Does the insurance carrier require doctor’s records to review my application for coverage?
• What are the limitations and exclusions for the plans?