It comes as no surprise that health insurance in California is in short supply, but the situation has been deteriorating for more than two decades.
By 2009, those who were not eligible for Medicare and were coveredthrough employment was only about 52 percent for Californian residents.
In fact, California has the highest percentage of uninsured in the nation.
That translates into 6.
8 million people probably going without health care because they have no health coverage.
Whether people work for big or small businesses, the percentage of people with no California health insurance shows the problem is worse here than in other states.
Californians who are self-employed or work in the public sector are also suffering from a lack of coverage.
With an increasing rate of unemployment, the future doesn't look any brighter as more people are expected to lose their employer-based coverage.
Even those who keep their jobs are at the mercy of rising premiums, which have increased by 134.
4 percent since 2002.
That's more than five times the overall inflation rate in California, which is just 24.
5 percent.
That explains why 28 percent of companies in California cut benefits or increased what their employees had to contribute toward insurance in 2010.
In 2009, only 15 percent of businesses reduced benefits or raised employee contributions.
Health insurance for California premiums for individual coverage average $5,463 annually, which is higher than the national $5,049 average.
Covering a family runs about $14,396 a year.
Getting California Health Insurance On Your Own Takes Research With more people shopping for health plans in California, some who have never handled finding individual coverage before, the stakes are high when you don't understand how the insurance industry works.
The first thing that many people do is try to find the lowest price on premiums even before they understand the different types of plans that are available.
Some of them end up with a policy that costs too much, or they discover it doesn't actually pay for their claim when it's too late.
When you don't get the right kind of coverage, your medical debt can be shocking.
Remember that most of the bankruptcies filed due to medical debt involve people who thought they had health insurance.
Consider Jan and David's story that happened in San Diego.
They believed they had 100 percent coverage after they met a $2,000 deductible until David fell off a ladder.
With pretty serious injuries, he needed medications, outpatient tests and physical therapy.
All together, that ran up a bill of $14,343.
That's when they learned that their health insurance policy did not cover any outpatient charges.
In effect, they had no coverage for any of the bill.
Who You Buy California Health Insurance From Is As Important As What Plan You Get If Jan and David had been working with an agent or broker who looked out for their interest, this would not have happened.
Until you become an expert, it's safer to rely on experts that you can trust.
How do you know whether to rely on an agent? First, be sure your agent or broker is really licensed.
The California Department of Insurance lets you search by license number or by name at their website to inquire about agent and broker license status.
Next, ask some questions to get to know your agent or broker.
Does he sell other forms of insurance, like auto and home policies? Is health insurance a sideline or his main focus.
With hundreds of California health insurance plans available from different insurers, it takes time to get to know the reputation of insurance companies and the details of the plans they offer.
Even a well-intentioned agent who's new to the business may fail to advise you of plan limitations that can be devastating.
You don't want to find out that your coverage is limited to a few thousand dollars for services that end up costing you $30,000.
It's equally important to assess your agent's motivation.
Will his commission be paid regardless of which insurance company has a plan that works for you, or does he need to steer you toward certain insurers to earn a living? Independent agents and brokers can put your interests first because they're paid no matter which insurer has the best coverage for you.
More plan choices give you more chances to get a better deal.
Finally, check whether your agent or broker will be accessible if you have problems with an insurer.
How easy is it to talk with a real person after you buy a California Health Insurance policy? Is your agent willing to help you get your policy issued without rate increases or exclusions placed on pre-existing conditions? Will your agent compare plans again for you in a year to see whether new plans offer better rates or coverage? Learn all you can about both your agent and the available plans before you buy.
By 2009, those who were not eligible for Medicare and were coveredthrough employment was only about 52 percent for Californian residents.
In fact, California has the highest percentage of uninsured in the nation.
That translates into 6.
8 million people probably going without health care because they have no health coverage.
Whether people work for big or small businesses, the percentage of people with no California health insurance shows the problem is worse here than in other states.
Californians who are self-employed or work in the public sector are also suffering from a lack of coverage.
With an increasing rate of unemployment, the future doesn't look any brighter as more people are expected to lose their employer-based coverage.
Even those who keep their jobs are at the mercy of rising premiums, which have increased by 134.
4 percent since 2002.
That's more than five times the overall inflation rate in California, which is just 24.
5 percent.
That explains why 28 percent of companies in California cut benefits or increased what their employees had to contribute toward insurance in 2010.
In 2009, only 15 percent of businesses reduced benefits or raised employee contributions.
Health insurance for California premiums for individual coverage average $5,463 annually, which is higher than the national $5,049 average.
Covering a family runs about $14,396 a year.
Getting California Health Insurance On Your Own Takes Research With more people shopping for health plans in California, some who have never handled finding individual coverage before, the stakes are high when you don't understand how the insurance industry works.
The first thing that many people do is try to find the lowest price on premiums even before they understand the different types of plans that are available.
Some of them end up with a policy that costs too much, or they discover it doesn't actually pay for their claim when it's too late.
When you don't get the right kind of coverage, your medical debt can be shocking.
Remember that most of the bankruptcies filed due to medical debt involve people who thought they had health insurance.
Consider Jan and David's story that happened in San Diego.
They believed they had 100 percent coverage after they met a $2,000 deductible until David fell off a ladder.
With pretty serious injuries, he needed medications, outpatient tests and physical therapy.
All together, that ran up a bill of $14,343.
That's when they learned that their health insurance policy did not cover any outpatient charges.
In effect, they had no coverage for any of the bill.
Who You Buy California Health Insurance From Is As Important As What Plan You Get If Jan and David had been working with an agent or broker who looked out for their interest, this would not have happened.
Until you become an expert, it's safer to rely on experts that you can trust.
How do you know whether to rely on an agent? First, be sure your agent or broker is really licensed.
The California Department of Insurance lets you search by license number or by name at their website to inquire about agent and broker license status.
Next, ask some questions to get to know your agent or broker.
Does he sell other forms of insurance, like auto and home policies? Is health insurance a sideline or his main focus.
With hundreds of California health insurance plans available from different insurers, it takes time to get to know the reputation of insurance companies and the details of the plans they offer.
Even a well-intentioned agent who's new to the business may fail to advise you of plan limitations that can be devastating.
You don't want to find out that your coverage is limited to a few thousand dollars for services that end up costing you $30,000.
It's equally important to assess your agent's motivation.
Will his commission be paid regardless of which insurance company has a plan that works for you, or does he need to steer you toward certain insurers to earn a living? Independent agents and brokers can put your interests first because they're paid no matter which insurer has the best coverage for you.
More plan choices give you more chances to get a better deal.
Finally, check whether your agent or broker will be accessible if you have problems with an insurer.
How easy is it to talk with a real person after you buy a California Health Insurance policy? Is your agent willing to help you get your policy issued without rate increases or exclusions placed on pre-existing conditions? Will your agent compare plans again for you in a year to see whether new plans offer better rates or coverage? Learn all you can about both your agent and the available plans before you buy.