Private Healthcare Insurance a Bust

A yearlong Consumer Reports investigation indicates that private health insurance is out of the question for most Americans currently uninsured or under-insured. Research indicated that 89 percent of people who looked into the idea of getting health insurance didn’t do so because it was too expensive. Others were turned down for previous health reasons or failed to sign up because the program provided inadequate benefits. Those who chose a plan faced high costs and poor coverage.

This isn’t just a problem for the poor. Anyone who wishes to retire early, loses a job, is self-employed or has an adult child leaving a group healthcare plan is dealing with this very issue. Even those who are in good health face high costs or being turned down because of previous treatment for minor infirmities.

The way the states handle this type of healthcare dilemma varies widely from state to state. One could easily buy insurance in one state and be turned down in another. According to the Consumer Reports survey, 76 percent of people lacking in health insurance said they couldn’t afford to pay for an individual plan. Only about 7 percent of adults have individual insurance.

Consumer reports recommends the following tips. 1) Know your state laws. 2) Research the market by using ehealthinsurance.com. 3) Know your rights when leaving a plan. Sometimes when you leave, you may not be able to qualify for another plan. 4) Get adequate benefits. If you’re going to pay for a plan, pay for one that will cover for everything. 5) Look for high risk pools, which exist in 34 states. It is a good idea for anyone who cannot pass medical underwriting. 6) Look past the premium. See what the annual deductible and copays are. They will add to the total cost and can add up.