| If you are a sole proprietor or small business owner | | | | benefits for health insurance must be provided in the |
| and require health insurance for you or your | | | | coverage, including mammograms and diabetes care. |
| employees, there are many options available that will | | | | Group Health Insurance |
| provide coverage for a reasonable premium. You will, | | | | For small employers (2-50 employees) group health |
| however, be required to carry out a good amount of | | | | insurance plans are a good idea if you want to |
| research before finding an insurance company that | | | | provide adequate coverage for yourself and your |
| will suit your needs, as there are a lot of choices out | | | | small group of employees. According to guaranteed |
| there. In addition, you have to ensure that the | | | | issue, insurance companies must sell small employers |
| company you choose for your health insurance | | | | small group insurance under most circumstances. If |
| coverage provides the kind of plan that will be most | | | | you and your group fall within the participation |
| beneficial in times of greatest need. | | | | requirements you cannot be turned down. An |
| Individual Health Insurance | | | | employee is considered insurable if he/she works for |
| Search Engine Marketing Specialist | | | | you a minimum of 24 hours a week on a regular |
| Since 1995 SEO/SEM tools, training, and professional | | | | basis ?C this includes household workers. |
| "full service" Search Engine Marketing help at very | | | | Usually a group health insurance plan requires that a |
| affordable rates. | | | | certain percentage of your employees participate in |
| Individual health insurance is coverage intended for | | | | the plan and you might have to contribute a minimum |
| one person. If you are self-employed or run your | | | | percentage of their premiums. Luckily, guaranteed |
| own business, you don??t have access to a group | | | | renewability makes it so that you cannot have your |
| health insurance plan through an employer, and must | | | | coverage cancelled if one of your workers becomes |
| purchase your own coverage from one of the many | | | | ill. This is definitely a plus so you always have access |
| health insurance providers located in your state. | | | | to continuous group coverage and are never left by |
| There are some pitfalls to obtaining your health | | | | the wayside without the proper insurance. |
| insurance from the private sector. For instance, | | | | HMOs and Blue Cross Blue Shield, again, are prohibited |
| limitations exist that might make it difficult to derive | | | | by law from charging more due to the health status |
| guaranteed benefits from a private insurance policy | | | | of one or more employees. At the same time, |
| as an individual. Private companies have a right to ask | | | | private companies are allowed to charge higher rates |
| you for information regarding your current and past | | | | if they deem it necessary. |
| health, and are also allowed to reject you for | | | | In addition, someone who is self-employed with no |
| insurance purposes based on your health status, or | | | | other workers may be able to purchase small group |
| impose limitations on your coverage. | | | | health plan coverage from Blue Cross Blue Shield. |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield, on the other hand, is required | | | | Specifically, sole proprietors are given the option of |
| by law to sell individual health insurance to any | | | | buying ??group-of-one?? policies from this |
| resident regardless of health status. This is referred | | | | organization. Other insurers also offer this type of |
| to as guaranteed issue. They must also refrain from | | | | coverage but are not required to offer it. You are a |
| charging you more due to any current or preexisting | | | | sole proprietor if you: are a resident of your state, |
| conditions ?C this is called community rating. HMOs | | | | work at least 30 hours a week and gain at least |
| are also required to sell health insurance to any | | | | 50% of your taxable income from your business. |
| individual during the 30-day open enrolment period | | | | In addition, self-employed individuals can have 100% |
| that occurs each year. | | | | of their health insurance premiums deducted from |
| Individual health insurance policies can vary depending | | | | their federal income tax. If you are a member of a |
| on the company. There are no laws that force | | | | professional or trade association you might be able to |
| private companies to offer the same health insurance | | | | receive group coverage under the organization??s |
| products so coverage plans from different providers | | | | insurance umbrella. |
| can offer quite different coverage. But certain | | | | |