| While group health insurance is ideal, there | | | | down due to pre-existing health conditions |
| are several ways to obtain affordable health | | | | you may have. The only stipulation to this is |
| insurance in Michigan if you are unable to | | | | that you must purchase your individual health |
| obtain it through an employer-sponsored group | | | | insurance plan with Blue Cross Blue Shield of |
| health insurance plan. | | | | Michigan. |
| | | | |
| If you have recently become unemployed, you | | | | Why is this stipulation worth accepting? |
| may be eligible for the Consolidated Omnibus | | | | Because it is hard for people with |
| Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, or COBRA, | | | | pre-existing health conditions to purchase |
| which allows you to continue your health | | | | individual health insurance policies. Health |
| insurance after becoming unemployed. You may | | | | insurance companies sometimes refuse to sell |
| also be eligible for the services offered by | | | | individual health insurance policies to the |
| the Health Insurance Portability and | | | | people because the companies feel they are |
| Accountability Act, or HIPAA. Other possible | | | | too "high-risk," meaning, they are going to |
| affordable health insurance options in | | | | be spending a lot of money on them. This is a |
| Michigan include insurance conversion, | | | | sad, but true, occurrence. |
| Medicaid, Medicare, and state-sponsored | | | | |
| health care plans which focus on low-income | | | | Do not let the prices of individual health |
| individuals, children, and families, or those | | | | insurance policies keep you from purchasing |
| who can not otherwise afford a health | | | | one, especially if you have a health |
| insurance policy. | | | | condition that requires regular care, |
| | | | treatment, and medication. In Michigan, you |
| Yet, if none of these options are available | | | | can obtain affordable health insurance. |
| to you, you may have to purchase an | | | | Contact the Michigan Office of Financial and |
| individual health insurance plan. However, in | | | | Insurance Services for more information about |
| Michigan, you can set out to purchase an | | | | purchasing an affordable individual health |
| affordable individual health insurance plan | | | | insurance plan through Blue Cross Blue Shield |
| without having to worry about being turned | | | | of Michigan. |