A Health Insurance Guide For You And The Family

Q. What are my options for buying health insurance for myself or my family?

A. The best way to get health insurance is through your employer as part of a "group health insurance" plan. You'll pay less and will often have broader benefits than if you were to buy a plan yourself on the open market.

Some health plans now consider people who are self-employed to be a "group of one," and will offer you group coverage. You can read more about that option in Health, life, and disability insurance for home-business owners. If you don't have access to an employer-sponsored health plan, see if you can get a group policy through some other channel.

Often, local chambers of commerce or professional organizations offer group health insurance to their members. If you can't get group coverage anywhere, you can still buy individual coverage, but the rates will be higher and you risk being turned down for coverage if you have any pre-existing medical conditions.

Read Tips for buying individual health coverage. Often, health plans will have "open enrollment" periods, an annual window period when individuals can join. If you missed open enrollment, you may have to wait until next year. See if your state's insurance department has a health insurance shopper's brochure that lists health plans and comparative costs.

Also, find out if your state mandates any "guaranteed issue" plans for individuals. To find insurance department contact information, choose the state in which you live from the menu at the top of this page.

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