| If you are a sole proprietor or small | | | | mammograms and diabetes care. |
| business owner and require health insurance | | | | |
| for you or your employees, there are many | | | | Group Health Insurance |
| options available that will provide coverage | | | | |
| for a reasonable premium. You will, however, | | | | For small employers (2-50 employees) group |
| be required to carry out a good amount of | | | | health insurance plans are a good idea if you |
| research before finding an insurance company | | | | want to provide adequate coverage for |
| that will suit your needs, as there are a lot | | | | yourself and your small group of employees. |
| of choices out there. In addition, you have | | | | According to guaranteed issue, insurance |
| to ensure that the company you choose for | | | | companies must sell small employers small |
| your health insurance coverage provides the | | | | group insurance under most circumstances. If |
| kind of plan that will be most beneficial in | | | | you and your group fall within the |
| times of greatest need. | | | | participation requirements you cannot be |
| | | | turned down. An employee is considered |
| Individual Health Insurance | | | | insurable if he/she works for you a minimum |
| | | | of 24 hours a week on a regular basis ¨C |
| Individual health insurance is coverage | | | | this includes household workers. |
| intended for one person. If you are | | | | |
| self-employed or run your own business, you | | | | Usually a group health insurance plan |
| don¡¯t have access to a group health | | | | requires that a certain percentage of your |
| insurance plan through an employer, and must | | | | employees participate in the plan and you |
| purchase your own coverage from one of the | | | | might have to contribute a minimum percentage |
| many health insurance providers located in | | | | of their premiums. Luckily, guaranteed |
| your state. | | | | renewability makes it so that you cannot have |
| | | | your coverage cancelled if one of your |
| There are some pitfalls to obtaining your | | | | workers becomes ill. This is definitely a |
| health insurance from the private sector. For | | | | plus so you always have access to continuous |
| instance, limitations exist that might make | | | | group coverage and are never left by the |
| it difficult to derive guaranteed benefits | | | | wayside without the proper insurance. |
| from a private insurance policy as an | | | | |
| individual. Private companies have a right to | | | | HMOs and Blue Cross Blue Shield, again, are |
| ask you for information regarding your | | | | prohibited by law from charging more due to |
| current and past health, and are also allowed | | | | the health status of one or more employees. |
| to reject you for insurance purposes based on | | | | At the same time, private companies are |
| your health status, or impose limitations on | | | | allowed to charge higher rates if they deem |
| your coverage. | | | | it necessary. |
| | | | |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield, on the other hand, is | | | | In addition, someone who is self-employed |
| required by law to sell individual health | | | | with no other workers may be able to purchase |
| insurance to any resident regardless of | | | | small group health plan coverage from Blue |
| health status. This is referred to as | | | | Cross Blue Shield. Specifically, sole |
| guaranteed issue. They must also refrain from | | | | proprietors are given the option of buying |
| charging you more due to any current or | | | | ¡°group-of-one¡± policies from |
| preexisting conditions ¨C this is called | | | | this organization. Other insurers also offer |
| community rating. HMOs are also required to | | | | this type of coverage but are not required to |
| sell health insurance to any individual | | | | offer it. You are a sole proprietor if you: |
| during the 30-day open enrolment period that | | | | are a resident of your state, work at least |
| occurs each year. | | | | 30 hours a week and gain at least 50% of your |
| | | | taxable income from your business. |
| Individual health insurance policies can vary | | | | |
| depending on the company. There are no laws | | | | In addition, self-employed individuals can |
| that force private companies to offer the | | | | have 100% of their health insurance premiums |
| same health insurance products so coverage | | | | deducted from their federal income tax. If |
| plans from different providers can offer | | | | you are a member of a professional or trade |
| quite different coverage. But certain | | | | association you might be able to receive |
| benefits for health insurance must be | | | | group coverage under the |
| provided in the coverage, including | | | | organization¡¯s insurance umbrella. |