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Kentucky Health Insurance
Health insurance at present is mainly available in two categories:
individual and group.
Individual insurance mainly looks after the needs of those who are
self-employed, or are working in a company that has no provision
for a health plan, or who maintain a family and seek individual
insurance for family members. If one purchases an individual plan,
he/she must pay a yearly premium, and also a deductible for each
insured dependent, up to a base amount. If one buys a group policy,
he/she must pay an annual premium, co-payments payable at each medical
service, and a deductible payable before insurance starts paying
his/her valid medical bills.
In Kentucky, insurers can deny you individual health insurance
if you have a medical problem. There are a number of rules about
the types of insurance plans which are available in Kentucky. For
example, each one must be a standard health plan; the types offered
can be indemnity, HMOs and PPOs; insurance companies may also have
customized plans to offer. The insurer can apply a maximum exclusion
period of one year if you have a pre-existing condition. If you
have had continuous health coverage before the new policy, you can
use it as credit toward the exclusion period. Kentucky also does
not allow exclusion riders on pre-existing conditions. Your individual
policy cannot be cancelled because of your illness, but the premiums
can go up during renewal. Conversion policies are available for
qualified persons.
In Kentucky, you cannot be denied group insurance due to a health
problem if you qualify. A new job is likely to keep you waiting
for health coverage, and an HMO may also have you wait in an ‘affiliation
period.’ The insurer can review your medical records for a
pre-existing condition for the prior six months only. In case you
have a pre-existing condition, the new group insurance can exclude
it from coverage for only the first one year under regular conditions.
If you have had unbroken health coverage for more than 63 days,
your prior insurance can be used as a credit for the exclusion period.
Small businesses with staff strength of two to 50 employees cannot
be denied small group health insurance in Kentucky. It cannot be
cancelled owing to the illness of members of the group, nor can
you be charged higher premiums. Under choice of plans, all insurers
must offer a standardized health plan, as well as other insured
health plans.
Kentucky does not allow self-employed persons to buy group health
insurance. You should contact the Kentucky Department of Insurance
for rules governing your affiliation with a professional association
for the purpose of group health insurance.
Kentucky Access insurance is available for people with expensive
health problems provided they qualify. Several programs like Medicaid,
Kentucky Children’s Health Insurance Program, Breast and Cervical
Cancer Treatment Program render financial help.
Selection of the right health insurance quotes is always tough.
You should do some homework before you make your choice. It makes
sense if you engage professional health insurance agents and brokers
who are experts in this field.
The leading health insurance providers in Kentucky are Anthem Blue
Cross and Blue Shield of Kentucky, Fairmont Specialty Group, Fortis,
Humana and Security Life.
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