Michigan Health Insurance – are you Covered? Health Insurance for Small Businesses
Individual Health Insurance:
Individual health insurance is coverage intended for one person. If you are self-employed or run your own business, you don’t have access to a group health insurance plan through an employer, and must purchase your own coverage from one of the many health insurance providers located in your state.
There are some pitfalls to obtaining your health insurance from the private sector. For instance, limitations exist that might make it difficult to derive guaranteed benefits from a private insurance policy as an individual. Private companies have a right to ask you for information regarding your current and past health, and are also allowed to reject you for insurance purposes based on your health status, or impose limitations on your coverage.
Blue Cross Blue Shield, on the other hand, is required by law to sell individual health insurance to any resident regardless of health status. This is referred to as guaranteed issue. They must also refrain from charging you more due to any current or preexisting conditions ¨C this is called community rating. HMOs are also required to sell health insurance to any individual during the 30-day open enrollment period that occurs each year.
Individual health insurance policies can vary depending on the company. There are no laws that force private companies to offer the same health insurance products so coverage plans from different providers can offer quite different coverage. But certain benefits for health insurance must be provided in the coverage, including mammograms and diabetes care.
read more: Michigan Health Insurance
Lisa Ip
