- 1). Check the rates on your employer's plan, your spouse's employer plan and any plans you may qualify for through a professional organization to which you belong. Look at the monthly premium rates, deductible, co-payment amount and out-of-pocket maximum.
- 2). Contact a local independent insurance agent to get quotes for individual health insurance plans in your area. If you have preexisting conditions, this will be much more expensive, but you should still get quotes for monthly premiums and coverage.
- 3). Visit healthcare.gov and look for plans for which you are qualified. This is a government-run site that includes high-risk, government-subsidized pools.
- 4). Compare the rates and out-of-pocket costs for each individual plan. A high-deductible plan will cover all medical expenses after you have reached the deductible amount, and may cost less overall than a traditional health insurance plan.
- 5). Apply for the plan with the best combination of rate and out-of-pocket costs.