More Resources On Individual Insurance

The Odds Are Stacked Against Individuals Seeking Medical Insurance — And Those Collecting On Claims

(CBS)  The number of Americans with no health insurance grows by 1 million per year — it's currently at 46 million.

Some people can't find insurance at any price — even if they're willing and able to pay. The reason could be a pre-existing condition as minor as acne or athlete's foot, CBS News chief investigative correspondent Armen Keteyian reported.

But even if you have health insurance, are you sure that if you get sick you'll be covered? Two major long-term care insurance providers are uncer Congressional investigation for denying an extremely high number of insurance claims.

For the 16 million people with individual health insurance coverage, that means trouble — because as Keteyian reported, those with individual insurance plans are not always protected from massive bills when they think they will be.

Read on for resources on how to find alternative sources of health coverage and for more information on individual assistance.

Individual Insurance Resources

• The Employee Benefits Research Group does research and education in order to encourage and enhance building "sound employee benefit programs and sound public policy." The group also has a comprehensive research and periodicals reference page.

• FamiliesUSA has a Web site that can help you locate individual insurance programs and assistance on a state-by-state basis. Also see their resources page for individual consumers and the professionals who assist them.

• The Kaiser Family Foundation has a list of resource papers and issue briefs about child and family health care coverage. See the foundation's national map of state initiatives on child health care.

• Some independent groups around the country provide ways for citizens to join unions to get the benefits of a group health insurance plan without working for a large company. In New York, the Freelancers Union is the largest such union, but others, like the National Writers Union and the The Entertainment Industry Group Insurance Trust exist and provide benefits for a fee. Other programs, such as Massachusetts' Health Services Administrators, work to provide health benefits to small local businesses.

• Check out Georgetown University's Consumer Guides for Getting and Keeping Health Insurance.

• The U.S. Department of Labor's COBRA plan can also provide insurance for some individuals. Check out the plan's Web site. Also check out a fact sheet from the Employee Benefits Service Administration.

• Click here to read more about managing cancer care through the American Cancer Society.

• For additional resources visit the Center to Reduce Health Care Disparities.

[nightstar11]

This is to Kellen--even if $ is tight--find a Dr that practices accupuncture--many years ago both my brother and I were bit on our legs by brown recluse spiders--I saw my accupuncture MD--brother saw a regular MD---I got well-brother almost lost his leg till he switched to my MD--It took my DR a little longer to cure my brother--but he did---good luck

[lkappler-2009]

I had been one of the un-insurables for many years. When I got married and was put on my husband's plan, I thought "Yes!". But, when the insurance company renewed the policy this year, they made some changes. Our co-pay and deductible went up and our coverage went down. We never have had vision or dental insurance, but they pretty much took away our prescription coverage. The 'new and improved' plan only covers 5 doctor's visits in a year (check ups and physicals are included in this count). Our handbook is 42 pages long, with 35 of those pages being exclusions. I feel like we are throwing our premiums to the wind each month.

[danham5]

There IS a cost-effective alternative for those individuals that are either un-insured or under-insured. I am an independent business owner working for a company that has helped 1.5 million members save more than a billion dollars on health care costs since 1992.

The company offers consumer-driven health care benefits including medical, dental, vision, prescription and chiropractic care. All ongoing dental/medical problems are ACCEPTED. These benefits are NOT insurance, but rather a discount health program that enables consumers the opportunity to purchase health care benefits directly from providers at discounted rates.

For more information please visit my website: www.deliveringonthepromise.com/40513034
or email me at: [e-mail].

[kellencr]

My name is Kellen, Sacramento Ca., im 23 years old and i have been trying to get health insurance for about two years now. I have tried about every health insurance out there, but none of them will cover me because i have been sick and hurt throughout the years. The main reason why they wont cover me is because i have been bit by a poisonous spider (Brown Recluse) about three years ago. I have lost most feeling in my right arm, and suffer from a large amount of pain. The poison from the bite has stayed in a nerve and has become active again twice since the initial bite. I have spoken to many doctors about this condition and the only real advice I have received is to receive laser surgery and kill the nerve. I cannot do this however since I have not been able to find any insurance company to cover me since I left the Union and stopped collecting disabillity. I have been looking relentlessly for insurance and cannot find any company to cover me and could deffinetly use advice on how to get insurance. I am self employed and trying to get my contractors license. Is there any group out there that I can join and get insurance with them?