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Buying an individual health plan

Individual coverage is health insurance you buy directly from an insurance company for yourself or for family members.

Some individual health plans may not be available where you live. Before you select a plan, see our map of individual health plans by county and their rates.

What determines how much you'll pay

• Your age
• Whether or not you smoke
• The size of your family (how many people you want to cover)
• The deductible amount

What to expect when you apply

• Most people will need to pass a Standard Health Questionnaire - or health screening, however there are exceptions (see the first few page of the Standard Health Questionnaire).
• If you fail the questionnaire, the health plan will refer you to the Washington State Health Insurance Pool (WSHIP) for coverage.

Pre-existing conditions and waiting period

Individual plans may require a nine-month waiting period for pre-exisitng conditions. This waiting period applies to:

• Any health condition you had during the previous six months (whether or not you received medical advice or treatment).

But, you may receive credit towards the waiting period:

• Make sure you submit your application for the new insurance within 63 days of ending your old plan.

What to consider when picking a plan

Most high-deductible/catastrophic health plans are NOT portable

This means if you select another individual plan in the future, you may have to wait up to nine months for coverage of a pre-existing condition after your insurance takes effect.

A plan is catastrophic if it has a deductible amount of:

• $1,880 or more for a single person
• $3,760 or more for two or more people

Can't find or afford coverage?

Updated 02/10/2012