Missouri Health Insurance

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Missouri Health Insurance

In general, health insurance is available in two categories at present: individual and group. Those who seek individual insurance are mainly self-employed, or are employed by a company that does not offer a health plan, or who have a family and who want individual insurance for their family members. When a person purchases an individual plan, he/she is required to pay an annual premium as well as a deductible for each insured dependent, up to a base amount. If he/she purchases a group insurance policy, he/she has to pay an annual premium, co-payments payable at each medical service, and a deductible payable before insurance begins paying for his/her valid medical bills.

Missouri allows health insurers to deny individual coverage due to health problems unless you are HIPAA eligible. Individual insurers can deny coverage on pre-existing conditions of people who are not HIPAA in several ways. They can do so a) by attaching an elimination rider, b) by imposing an exclusion period of up to two years, and c) by looking back at your health records for any pre-existing condition if you make a claim in the first 24 months and then rejecting the claim. In Missouri, pregnancy is treated as a pre-existing condition. Insurers are not bound to give credit for continuous coverage toward the exclusion period. There are no curbs on individual premium costs, but your coverage cannot be cancelled if you fall sick. You will qualify for conversion policies if you had group coverage for more than three months, then lost it, and do not have access to new group insurance.

In Missouri, you cannot be denied group health insurance or charged more for a health problem provided you are eligible for it. In case you take up a new job with group health coverage, your new employer can wait before offering you its group coverage. A new insurer is allowed to review the last six months of your health history, prior to acceptance of the new plan, looking for pre-existing conditions. If you are found to have one, the insurer may impose an exclusion period not exceeding one year. If you have had continuous coverage, without any breaks of more than 63 days, the company has to give you credit toward the exclusion period on the pre-existing condition.
Small businesses with staff strength between two and 50 employees cannot be denied small group insurance because of the health conditions of their employee groups. Due to the health condition of the group, however, Missouri limits the premium cost of an employee group of three to 25. However, if the employee group consists of two or more than 25 people, there are no limits on the premiums. In Missouri, self-employed residents cannot purchase group health coverage. For affiliation with a trade or professional association which offers group health insurance, one should contact the Missouri Department of Insurance.

The Missouri Health Insurance Program is the high risk pool for residents who cannot afford health insurance and need expensive medical treatment. Other statewide programs for low income residents are Medicaid, MC+ for Kids, and Show Me Healthy Women.

You should do some homework before choosing the right health insurance quotes for you. However, it is always better to appoint professional health insurance agents and brokers who can be of great help in this regard with their valuable experience and expertise.

The leading health insurance providers in Missouri are American Medical Security, BlueCross BlueShield of Kansas City, BlueCross BlueShield of Missouri, Celtic, Fairmont Specialty Group, Fortis, Golden Rule, Humana and Security Life.

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Useful links and information:

http://www.mhip.org/index.htm

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