Kentucky Individual Health Insurance – Evaluate Options

The health insurance market offers various kinds of Kentucky health insurance that include individual and family health insurance, group and student insurance, short-term insurance, dental insurance, and more. Kentucky individual health insurance or family health insurance refers to health insurance that covers you and your family. You would need to consider buying an individual health insurance plan if your employer does not offer you coverage in a group plan.

Factors Governing Issue of Kentucky Individual Health Insurance

All Kentucky health insurance is state-regulated. Some of the main factors governing the issue of individual health insurance in Kentucky are:

• Kentucky health insurance providers consider factors such as health status, gender, age, and lifestyle when considering an application


• Premiums vary depending on the above-mentioned factors. Premiums would be quite high if you have a serious health condition. Also, your premium would go up as you get older


• As in other state, in Kentucky too, individual insurance is not guaranteed issue. However, your existing insurance policy cannot be canceled if you get sick, except in the case of fraud or intentional misrepresentation of material fact


• In Kentucky, a health insurance company can apply a pre-existing condition exclusion period for a condition like pregnancy for up to 12 months


• An insurance company will not refuse you issue, charge more or require you to face a pre-existing exclusion period because of a genetic condition that includes your family history of health conditions

Kentucky private health insurance options available to individuals include HMO, PPO, POS, and HSA plans. Recent health reform legislation has brought many benefits. Children are now allowed to stay on their parents’ health plan till age 26, and cannot be denied coverage due to a pre-existing condition.

Buying a Comprehensive Kentucky Health Insurance Plan - Points to Consider

It would be to your advantage to consider the following when buying Kentucky individual health insurance:

• Number of members in you family who need coverage


• Coverage for children


• Whether your primary care physician (if your plan has one) is nearby


• Premium, copayments and deductible


• Services that the plan pays for


• Coverage for prescriptions


• The future health needs of your family


• Your budget

A licensed health insurance agent would be able to provide valuable advice on choosing the right health insurance plan. The websites of experienced agents offer all the resources necessary to request quotes from various insurance providers, compare them and select the right plan.

KY Health Insurance – Many Affordable Options

Many Kentucky residents get health insurance through their employer. Such KY health insurance coverage usually covers their families also. However, if it does not, they have to look for an affordable family health insurance plan. Kentucky residents can choose from a wide range of insurance options such as HMO, PPO, POS, and HSA plans.

KY Health Insurance Options for your Family

• HMO: Most people prefer to go in for a HMO as they cost less than other plans. Your family would see a primary care physician (PCP) in the HMO network, so it is important that the health facility is close to where you stay. A HMO is a good choice if your family is in good health. Your PCP would have to provide reference if you need to see a specialist.

• PPO: PPOs offer a wider network of preferred health care providers. Your family can consult doctors, including specialists in the network, though costs would be higher than with a HMO. Many health insurance companies offer PPO plan coverage with one set of benefits from in-network providers and another for care received from providers outside the network.

• POS: POS family health insurance plans offer a great deal of flexibility. You can consult out-of-network doctors and providers, though your out-of-pocket costs and premiums would be higher than in a HMO.

• HSA: A Health Savings Account combined with a high deductible health plan (HDHP) allows you to pay for qualified health expenses using the money you put into a tax-free HSA. You have lower monthly premiums and a high deductible.

Choosing the Right Plan

Consider the following points when buying family health insurance on your own: number of members to be insured, premiums, co pays, and deductibles, coverage for children, whether inpatient care for your family includes costs of surgery, room, board and incidentals; number of doctor visits; emergency care; prescription coverage, and so on.

New reform has brought a lot of welcome relief as far as KY health insurance is concerned. Children can remain on their parents’ policy till age 26, and cannot be denied coverage because of a pre-existing condition. Insurance companies cannot drop people from coverage when they get sick. Members in new plans can choose any PCP without prior authorization from the insurer. This offers greater access to health care in emergencies.

The best way to buy KY health insurance for your family is to seek professional guidance from an experienced insurance agent.