We all have different health needs — and we all have different insurance coverage needs. That's why more and more people are choosing individual health plans to get customized coverage. But health insurance isn't only about getting the right coverage — it's also about finding the right price. And individual health insurance is actually more affordable than you think. All you need to do is compare rates from leading health insurance carriers and see for yourself.

First, let's learn about individual health insurance.

What Are The Types Of Individual Health Plans?

There are plenty of individual health plans to choose from. Here are the most common types of individual health insurance:

• HMOs (Health Maintenance Organization). HMOs are one of the most affordable health plans available — and they offer comprehensive coverage. HMOs create networks of doctors, hospitals, clinics, specialists, and other care providers. Most HMO networks consist of thousands of healthcare professionals, ensuring you'll have convenient access to medical care when you need it.
• PPOs (Preferred Provider Organization). The PPO is an affordable health plan with an added benefit — you'll have coverage with any healthcare provider. That means you can see any doctor or specialist you want, and your plan will cover the care. The PPO is great for flexible, comprehensive, and affordable healthcare.
• Health Savings Account (HSA) Plans. There are 2 parts to HSA coverage: a high-deductible plan and a Health Savings Account. The high-deductible plan provides catastrophic coverage and features low monthly premiums. The HSA is a tax-free savings account where you save money to pay for minor medical expenses.
• Fee For Service (FFS) Plans. The FFS plan is the traditional form of health insurance. It works very simply — you get the care you need, then you're reimbursed for a percentage of the cost.

Understanding Your Individual Health Plan

There are few basic things you'll need to consider when you're choosing your individual health insurance plan.

Your premiums

Your premiums are payments you make to keep your plan in effect. Usually, premiums are paid each month. Premiums are set by your insurance company based on factors such as health status, age, where you live, and where you work.

Choosing your deductible

The deductible is the dollar amount you'll be responsible for before your plan begins coverage. Most health plans let you choose your own deductible, so how do you choose the amount that's best?

It might seem like a lower deductible would be better. But a low deductible means you'll have to pay higher monthly premiums. It works the other way too — the higher your deductible, the lower your month's bills. You'll have to decide if you want lower monthly premiums or lower medical bills for your healthcare.

Copayments and coinsurance

If you have an HMO, you might pay $15 at the doctor's office for a check-up. That's called your copayment. You pay a certain dollar amount of the bill and your plan covers the rest. HMOs offer copayments as low as $10, while PPOs often charge copayments of $40 or less.

Coinsurance is similar to a copayment, except it's expressed as a percentage rather than a dollar amount. A coinsurance rate of 80/20 means you'll be responsible for 20% of a medical bill.

Individual Vs. Employer-Sponsored Health Coverage

The majority of people have employer-sponsored health insurance. But the number of people with individual coverage is growing. Today, more than 13 million people have an individual plan.

Why choose an individual health plan over an employer's plan? Here are the key advantages of individual health insurance:

• Customized coverage. In group coverage, everyone ends up in a one-size-fits-all type of plan. But everyone has different health needs. With employer-sponsored coverage you end up paying for coverage you don't need, or may have to go without coverage for care you do need.
• Mobile coverage. With an employer's plan, leaving your job means leaving your health insurance. Individual plans protect your health wherever your career takes you.

Finding The Right Individual Health Plan

Finding individual health insurance is actually a lot like looking for a new pair of jeans. Here's how:

In a clothing store, there are usually dozens of racks of jeans to choose from. As you shop, you'll consider what kind of jeans you want, along with how much you want to spend. When you find a pair you like, you'll try it on to see if it fits.

Now imagine each rack is a different insurance company. You can shop in the same way — by comparing various types of plans, comparing rates, and comparing coverage and benefits. If you shop smart, you can find the best fit for your health needs.

Here's where we come in. GoHealth makes it easy to shop for an individual health plan. You can view and compare plans from the top names in health insurance, along with finding the plans available in your state.

We also make it easy to connect with professional agents. It's best to get expert advice from agents to help you sort out all the details of a health insurance plan — and to help you with the application process.

When you use our secure online service, you'll be instantly connected with agents from leading health insurance companies around the country.

Just fill out a simple form to get free health insurance quotes right now. Don’t worry — you have no obligation to buy anything, and it's 100% risk-free.