| Individual Health Insurance: | | | | Blue Cross Blue Shield, on the other hand, is required |
| Individual health insurance is coverage intended for one | | | | by law to sell individual health insurance to any resident |
| person. If you are self-employed or run your own | | | | regardless of health status. This is referred to as |
| business, you don't have access to a group health | | | | guaranteed issue. They must also refrain from |
| insurance plan through an employer, and must | | | | charging you more due to any current or preexisting |
| purchase your own coverage from one of the many | | | | conditions ¨C this is called community rating. |
| health insurance providers located in your state. | | | | HMOs are also required to sell health insurance to any |
| There are some pitfalls to obtaining your health | | | | individual during the 30-day open enrollment period that |
| insurance from the private sector. For instance, | | | | occurs each year. |
| limitations exist that might make it difficult to derive | | | | Individual health insurance policies can vary depending |
| guaranteed benefits from a private insurance policy as | | | | on the company. There are no laws that force private |
| an individual. Private companies have a right to ask you | | | | companies to offer the same health insurance |
| for information regarding your current and past health, | | | | products so coverage plans from different providers |
| and are also allowed to reject you for insurance | | | | can offer quite different coverage. But certain benefits |
| purposes based on your health status, or impose | | | | for health insurance must be provided in the coverage, |
| limitations on your coverage. | | | | including mammograms and diabetes care. |