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M$2 January 10, 2009 01:10 AM

Self-pay health insurance for a recent college grad?

My little sister just graduated from college and does not have a job with health insurance yet. Can anyone suggest a good, low-cost health coverage plan for her? Looking for under $100 is ideal, with coverage in the Chicago, IL area. Just a high-deductible "catastrophic" plan would be just fine, but more options are better. She's 23, a non-smoker.
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January 10, 2009 02:19 AM
It looks like eHealthInsurance.com is the place to go to quickly compare available policies.

One of the key choices your sister will need to make is whether to sign up with a short-term (e.g. six month) plan to cover her until she gets a job with health care, or a longer term plan, for example if she anticipates that she won't be getting employer coverage in her field.

Short-term plans seem to be considerably cheaper - well under $100 - but are only renewable if she continues to have good health. Long term plans for someone like your sister seem to be in the ballpark of $100-$120, but the details will depend on her circumstances, where she'll be living, and what benefits she wants.
Source(s):
http://www.ehealthinsurance.com/content/health/health-insurance-college-gra...
http://moneysmartlife.com/health-insurance-for-new-college-graduates-shoppi...
http://finance.yahoo.com/insurance/article/102885/Health-Insurance-for-Coll...
http://www.gradmed.com/av3/index.asp
http://www.kiplinger.com/features/archives/2006/04/collegehealth.html

Asker's Rating:
• Good general info, lots of links


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January 10, 2009 02:11 AM
You should have her check out E Health Insurance:

http://www.ehealthinsurance.com

There are plenty of good deals to be found.

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January 10, 2009 02:15 AM
The best way solution is to go to the Vimo website below and obtain a comparison based on the quotes of 5 Insurance companies. It is a comparison website for health care. It covers doctors, hospitals, and health care insurance.

https://www.vimo.com/affiliate/affindquote1.php?affid=278&adid=19&submitQuoteForm=false&module=Healthplan
Source(s):
https://www.vimo.com


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January 10, 2009 02:50 AM
Some of these answers seem about right. Since i have been self-employed, i just bought a random plan every year or other year. The reason is because they always jack up my rates. So i don't mind paying ten, twenty, thirty dollars here or there, or getting all stressed out and worried. I guess one should take it serious on the type, but after they jack it up hundreds of dollars, one wants to switch anyway. Now when you are talking prices, compare the monthly cost. I just happened to know one salesman that changed every few years because they cut off his commission about that time everytime so he always had a new one lined up and ready to sell. They all seemed to pay about the same and the only thing i was worried about was something really big. When i started out, i thought i better go with a great company and my hundred dollars when to two, three, four, then six. When i knew it would hit eight, i got smart, and all because i thought i was going with a great company. The fact is, today, with so many claims, they care nothing about loyalty it seems. I will suggest one only because they seemed cheap at the time i used them and that is the only reason that i know of.
Source(s):
http://www.goldenrule.com/


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January 10, 2009 03:04 AM
i think United Healthcare is the same as the one i mentioned because they merged now. one thing to be sure of at age 23 is pregnancy. it is more expensive but i did not plan for it and have paid for my kids. most people are able to plan out a lifestyle like that but i live as an entrepreneur with risks, often not making money inbetween offsets. it is also hard for me to plan so much expense every month when i can make more possibly by investing. for her, i would raise that awareness because it is expensive. most plans you have to carry it or something for a year and she should check at the time of signup if that is in the plans.

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January 10, 2009 02:54 AM
Before we were covered by employer insurance we went with United Healthcare, which I do believe you can get in IL.
It is affordable, especially for an individual. Your sister will have the options of regular co-pay plans or an HSA account.
HSA does have its advantages, the premiums will be lower than with a co-pay plan and each month part of the premiums will go to a debit card that will be used only for medical purposes.
The drawbacks are, when you go to the doctor, you will pay a discounted portion of the medical bill. Say there are x-rays etc. that can really add up and your discount will still end up being pretty high.
If your sister rarely goes to the Dr. and she goes months and months without going then the $25 added each month to the debit card will certainly help.
I personally recommend the traditional co-pay, even if the premium is a little higher because once you choose HSA, you are not allowed to switch over to co-pay

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August 06, 2009 12:23 PM
Individual health insurance will be perfect for you

Individual health insurance is available in many states to individuals and families who either do not have access to an employer sponsored plan, prefer to have their own plan with the individual carrier of their choice, or for those who wish to supplement the employer sponsored plan of a spouse for example to broaden the coverage for themselves or their dependents.

check out this site it can help you http://swbd.com/health.htm

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