Interested in individual health insurance? Here are some answers to frequently asked questions that give you the basics:

How many plans are available?

What kind of coverage can I expect from an individual plan?

Do these plans cover dental or vision needs?

Can I see any doctor I want?

What do these plans cost?

I have some current medical conditions. Will these be covered by the plan?

Will these carriers ask me a lot of questions about my health?

I'm Medicare eligible (age 65 or over). Can I still get an individual plan?

What are my options if I don't live in Washington state?

This coverage is not for me but for my parents, who are coming from another country and planning on living with me. Can I get them an individual health plan?

What medical coverage is available to non-U.S. citizens if they are not able to apply for individual plans? How long will it take to get coverage once I apply?

How long will it take to get coverage once I apply?

How many plans are available?

The numbers vary state to state. Because our business is primarily in the state of Washington, we work with carriers here. The following Web sites provide information about each company's individual plans, the benefits, and the rates.

Regence BlueShield: www.wa.regence.com
LifeWise of Washington: www.lifewise-insurance.com/washington.html
Premera Blue Cross: www.premera.com
GroupHealth: www.ghc.org
Assurant Health : www.assuranthealth.com

What kind of coverage can I expect from an individual plan?

The typical plan covers physician and hospital services, maternity care, rehabilitation, preventive care, and prescription coverage. The coverage has limits or additional costs such as co-pays, deductibles, and coinsurance.

Do these plans cover dental or vision needs?

A few individual plans do provide these services—at a substantial cost. Most individual health plans cover only medical conditions, because dental and vision are not considered medical conditions. However, insurers offer separate policies for both.

Can I see any doctor I want?

Depending on the plan, your carrier may require you see certain doctors to be covered. Generally the list of doctors is quite broad and, even if you don't see a listed provider, you will still receive some level of reimbursement for these services.

What do these plans cost?

The monthly rates are based upon a person's age, the plan design you select, and whether you are a smoker or non-smoker. It's best to compare these rates once you have chosen a plan design.

I have some current medical conditions. Will these be covered by the plan?

Current medical conditions, or pre-existing conditions, typically have a waiting period before plans will cover such expenses. Depending upon which plan you select, this waiting period can range from nine to 36 months. An example of a pre-existing condition is someone with diabetes. Because this is a known condition existing at the time of application, any expenses related to it will not be covered until the waiting period has passed. Pregnancy is generally not considered a pre-existing condition.

Will these carriers ask me a lot of questions about my health?

The application process requires that you complete a health risk questionnaire. In Washington State, depending on the severity of a person's health, the carrier may accept your application or refer you to the Washington state insurance pool for coverage.

I'm Medicare eligible (age 65 or over). Can I still get an individual plan?

Individual plans are not for persons entitled to Medicare. Medicare supplemental plans are what you need. Many carriers offer such plans, which help cover the items that Medicare doesn't—prescription drugs, for example. For assistance in Washington State to know which Medicare Supplemental Plan would work best for you, contact the state agency SHIBA at 1 (800) 397-4422 or 1 (800) MEDICARE. The King County Senior Services Information and Assist Line, a United Way Organization, can also help at (206) 448-3110.

What are my options if I don't live in Washington state?

To contact carriers in your state of residence, consider starting with the local Blue Cross or Blue Shield association in your community. You can find the listings in the phone book or at www.bluecares.com. In addition, two Web-based services can assist you in locating local plans and carriers. Go to www.einsure.com or www.ehealthinsurance.com for information.

This coverage is not for me but for my parents, who are coming from another country and planning to live with me. Can I get them an individual health plan?

In Washington State permanent residence is required in order to apply for coverage. To provide this, a carrier may request a copy of a Washington driver's license, monthly utility bill, voter registration card, or identification card in addition to the normal application forms. A Visa is not sufficient to show proof of residency. To find out how to get an identification card, contact your local state driver's licensing office. In order to receive a non-driving license/ID card, you may be required to show other identification such as an Immigration and Naturalization Service ID card. You can also review these requirements at www.wa.gov/dol.

What medical coverage is available to non-U.S. citizens if they are not able to apply for individual plans?

Assurant Health is a carrier that provides temporary coverage to non-U.S. citizens and to other persons who need temporary coverage. For temporary coverage, try www.assuranthealth.com. For information, go to www.imglobal.com. These programs are available in most U.S. states.

How long will it take to get coverage once I apply?

After the carrier receives your completed application, the company will let you know within a matter of weeks if you've been accepted or not. Some carriers will ask you to pay up-front for coverage. Others will not bill you until you've been accepted.

Insurers may impose a deadline when an application is due. For example, if a non-U.S. citizen desires coverage, that person must apply within 30 days of arriving in the U.S. (per Assurant Health application). For other carriers, coverage does not begin until the first of a month regardless of when you apply. Also, rates are subject to change so it's important to check before sending in an application.

We are here to assist you with these and other questions. For further information please contact Life & Health Underwriters.

If you have additional questions, please call us at (206) 728-1314 or send an e-mail to jolie@lhui.com.