Can I join a group to qualify for a group health care insurance plan even if I’m not employed? Can you suggest options I can check out?
One of the groups you that offer group health plans is the American Association of Retired Persons. AARP have contractors where members can get health insurance plans. Although, what can be purchased through AARP are mostly individual supplemental plans. You can check with them if they have group health plans. Because what you can get through AARP are supplements only, you should have a separate or individual health care policy to qualify for their supplemental plans. You must also be 50 years old or younger, not necessarily unemployed or retired, to gain access to the benefits they offer. Group health care insurance plans tend to be cheaper for the employees because the employer pays a certain percentage of the monthly premium. In addition, it is also cheaper because several individuals are sharing the total cost of the insurance plan. For instance, if your family consists of four people, your premium for a traditional family health insurance plan can cost about $700. But if you belong to a group or company, you may pay only around $300 to $400 a month assuming you are part of a group health insurance plan. However, there are individual health insurance plans that also cost lower than those of group health plans. For group plans, the smaller the group, the higher the premium. The bigger the group, the better the benefits, and the lower the costs. For example, in a company of 20 employees, they can pay as much as twice of the regular premium for individual medical plans than in a company with 40 employees. You can also ask a health insurance agent for advice on getting a health insurance plan that is within your budget. You have to know that not all companies or employers offer a group health care insurance plan, though. Answer by MikeB– June 19.2009 @ 3:13 pm 1 CommentLeave a comment |
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Group health care insurance plans are offered mostly in companies with more than 20 employees.
I don’t that that is what they were asking, Mike. In order to join a group health plan you need to be an eligible employee of the company. The insurance companies, as well as state regulations, have strict guidelines as to whom is eligible. Payroll records are often required to verify eligibility and any person not on the payroll, or a dependent of somebody on payroll, can’t be included on the plan
Comment by Moderator — June 26, 2009 @ 9:16 pm