If you do not work for a company that provides medical insurance, you should purchase individual medical insurance. Many people assume they will purchase medical insurance later in life, or if and when they become ill. The problem with this approach is that if your health is not good, the insurance company might not approve you. Even if approved, you may be subject to pre-existing condition restrictions that will not pay for your previous illness(s). If you have a medical insurance policy, you generally do not have to worry about qualifying in the future, or about preexisting conditions. More importantly, you have coverage in place in the event that you have a medical problem.

If your company is willing to pay most of your medical insurance cost, you should be enrolled in the company's group medical insurance. If the company does not pay a percentage of your dependents' cost for coverage, you should compare those costs with the cost of obtaining a private plan. If your dependents are healthy, and your company is not paying a percentage of their medical insurance, you will often find a better price by buying an individual plan for your dependents. Individual insurance can be less expensive because most group insurance plans have to insure everyone, regardless of health, smoking habits, and age. Therefore, one can often insure young, healthy dependents at lower cost by purchasing an individual plan.

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