What to Look for in Cheap Individual Health Insurance

Deductible

• If you are a reasonably healthy individual who rarely goes to the doctor, settling for a higher deductible can bring your private health insurance costs down dramatically. Just remember that if you choose a higher deductible, "don't go beyond what you can afford to pay out each year," warns SmartMoney's Stacy L. Bradford.
  
  

Co-Pays

• Accepting higher out of pocket expenses in the form of co-pays can also help drive down the cost of individual health insurance policies. If you are willing to foot more of the bill when it comes to visiting doctors or paying for prescriptions, opting for higher co-pays can save you money.
  
  

Additional Coverage

• The best way to save money on individual health insurance is, unfortunately, to forgo some of the coverages offered by group insurance plans. If you take no expensive maintenance medications, drop prescription coverage altogether. Leaving out dental and vision coverage will also reduce your premiums.