| If you are a sole proprietor or small | | | | Group Health Insurance |
| business owner andrequire health insurance | | | | |
| for you or your employees, thereare many | | | | For small employers (2-50 employees) group |
| options available that will provide coverage | | | | health insuranceplans are a good idea if you |
| for areasonable premium. You will, however, | | | | want to provide adequatecoverage for yourself |
| be required to carryout a good amount of | | | | and your small group of employees. |
| research before finding an insurancecompany | | | | |
| that will suit your needs, as there are a lot | | | | According to guaranteed issue, insurance |
| ofchoices out there. In addition, you have to | | | | companies mustsell small employers small |
| ensure that thecompany you choose for your | | | | group insurance under mostcircumstances. If |
| health insurance coverageprovides the kind of | | | | you and your group fall within |
| plan that will be most beneficial intimes of | | | | theparticipation requirements you cannot be |
| greatest need. | | | | turned down. Anemployee is considered |
| | | | insurable if he/she works for you aminimum of |
| Individual Health Insurance | | | | 24 hours a week on a regular basis ¨C |
| | | | thisincludes household workers. |
| Individual health insurance is coverage | | | | |
| intended for oneperson. If you are | | | | Usually a group health insurance plan |
| self-employed or run your own business,you | | | | requires that acertain percentage of your |
| don¡¯t have access to a group health | | | | employees participate in theplan and you |
| insurance planthrough an employer, and must | | | | might have to contribute a minimum |
| purchase your own coveragefrom one of the | | | | percentageof their premiums. Luckily, |
| many health insurance providers located | | | | guaranteed renewability makesit so that you |
| inyour state. | | | | cannot have your coverage cancelled if oneof |
| | | | your workers becomes ill. This is definitely |
| There are some pitfalls to obtaining your | | | | a plus soyou always have access to continuous |
| health insurancefrom the private sector. For | | | | group coverage and arenever left by the |
| instance, limitations existthat might make it | | | | wayside without the proper insurance. |
| difficult to derive guaranteed benefitsfrom a | | | | |
| private insurance policy as an individual. | | | | HMOs and Blue Cross Blue Shield, again, are |
| Privatecompanies have a right to ask you for | | | | prohibited bylaw from charging more due to |
| information regardingyour current and past | | | | the health status of one ormore employees. At |
| health, and are also allowed toreject you for | | | | the same time, private companies areallowed |
| insurance purposes based on your | | | | to charge higher rates if they deem it |
| healthstatus, or impose limitations on your | | | | necessary. |
| coverage. | | | | |
| | | | In addition, someone who is self-employed |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield, on the other hand, is | | | | with no otherworkers may be able to purchase |
| required bylaw to sell individual health | | | | small group health plancoverage from Blue |
| insurance to any residentregardless of health | | | | Cross Blue Shield. Specifically, |
| status. This is referred to asguaranteed | | | | soleproprietors are given the option of |
| issue. They must also refrain from charging | | | | buying ¡°group-of-one¡±policies |
| youmore due to any current or preexisting | | | | from this organization. Other insurers also |
| conditions ¨C thisis called community | | | | offerthis type of coverage but are not |
| rating. HMOs are also required to sellhealth | | | | required to offer it. Youare a sole |
| insurance to any individual during the 30-day | | | | proprietor if you: are a resident of your |
| openenrolment period that occurs each year. | | | | state,work at least 30 hours a week and gain |
| | | | at least 50% of yourtaxable income from your |
| Individual health insurance policies can vary | | | | business. |
| depending onthe company. There are no laws | | | | |
| that force private companiesto offer the same | | | | In addition, self-employed individuals can |
| health insurance products so coverageplans | | | | have 100% oftheir health insurance premiums |
| from different providers can offer quite | | | | deducted from their federalincome tax. If you |
| differentcoverage. But certain benefits for | | | | are a member of a professional or |
| health insurance must beprovided in the | | | | tradeassociation you might be able to receive |
| coverage, including mammograms and | | | | group coverageunder the organization¡¯s |
| diabetescare. | | | | insurance umbrella. |
| | | | |