NC Individual Health Insurance - Policies for Children
If you want to lower your monthly premiums, you should consider getting NC individual health insurance for your kids. If you have added your children to your company insurance plan, you may be overpaying for their coverage. While many employers pay a minimum of 50% of their employee’s premiums to comply with North Carolina law, they are under no obligation to pay anything for spouses and children. This means that while you get a great rate on your health insurance, you are probably paying too much for insurance on your children.
NC individual health insurance is insurance purchased directly by you, the consumer. It differs significantly from the health insurance provided by employers in several ways. Firstly, you are able to choose your own carrier. Since different carriers provide different types of benefits, finding a plan that fits your needs is much easier when you have multiple options to choose from. The plan can be customized to include the benefits you need while keeping the cost low by excluding those that you don’t want. The cost of the insurance is based on the individual’s health history rather than the whole family. A relatively healthy child, therefore, can get good coverage at a decent price.
Since you own the insurance, it will remain in full force until they are 65 years of age as long as the premiums are paid. When your child reaches the age of adulthood, they are no longer considered a dependant and become ineligible for coverage through your employer’s plan. This can cause problems if the child is undergoing treatment at the time of their ineligibility. It can make finding replacement insurance difficult or expensive as many carriers may decline coverage if the child has a preexisting condition. Another good thing about owning NC individual health insurance is you will be protected from sudden changes made with your employer’s coverage. If your employer switches carriers you won’t have to worry about how the new plan will affect your children because they will have their own insurance.
There are a few drawbacks to purchasing individual health insurance. You have to pay the entire premium out of pocket. Some carriers require a twelve month waiting period for preexisting conditions (depending on their prior coverage) and you may end up paying higher rates if you have one. However, being in control of your child’s health coverage may be worth the cost. When purchasing North Carolina child health insurance, it is best to work with a qualified health insurance broker who can help you find the best plans for your needs at as little cost as possible.