Individuals and Families

Why Buy My Own?

Employer coverage ends if you become ill and lose your job. Once you obtain your own individual or family policy, you can renew until age 65 (Medicare) and your premium cannot generally be increased due to illness or claims history. Premiums will rise with age and general medical inflation. Policies for healthy families are 1/3 to 1/2 the price of employer coverage. Compare Quotes Online!

Why High Deductible?

Choosing a traditional co-pay plan or a low deductible often costs you more in premiums than you save on doctor's visits. High-deductible plans save you money every year while still providing safety against medical bankruptcy.

What If I'm Seriously Ill?

All 50 states now offer some form of guaranteed-issue health insurance. If you or a member of your family has a serious preexisting health condition, you can apply for membership in the State Risk Pool, saving you thousands or tens of thousands each year.

Testimonials

Read how Zane Benefits has helped other individuals and families.

In the News

What To Do If You Are Self-Employed

Forbes

"The solution for healthy self-employed individuals is simple, according to author Paul Zane Pilzer. These folks should buy a high-deductible individual or family policy that is qualified to be paired with a health savings account, he says."

Insuring Yourself

NewsWeek

"In his latest book, The New Health Insurance Solution, published in September by John Wiley & Sons, Pilzer argues that most Americans—at least, those without preexisting conditions—can save money by choosing individual policies over those offered by their employers."

When To Choose An HSA

Wall Street Journal

"The real question for those considering an HSA is: 'Do I want a high-deductible health insurance plan?' says Paul Zane Pilzer."

CBN: The 700 Club with Pat Robertson

CBN

"Most people don't understand Cobra. For example, when you're fired or quit, you're entitled under federal law to the equivalent of three-and-a-half months of free Cobra. But your employer doesn't tell you about this."

Getting Cheaper Health Coverage

NY Daily News

"Paul Zane Pilzer offers living proof that even economists can have trouble finding good health insurance. He's since authored the book...And now, he's among those championing a Congressional bill, the Health Care Choice Act, which would allow individual health insurance to be sold across state lines."

The New Health Insurance Solution

Soundview

"The New Health Insurance Solution explains in layman's terms how readers can save money, and teaches them the most important aspects of the economics of health insurance."

What If You Lose Your Health Insurance?

Consumer Reports

"Surprise! You can find affordable health insurance on your own. Compared with employer-sponsored coverage, 'individual policies that you purchase yourself are half the price or less for the same coverage—if you're healthy,' says Paul Zane Pilzer."

Paul Zane Pilzer Debunks Health Insurance Myths

HealthSavings News

"One of the most common myths is that individual plans are twice the price of employer-sponsored plans. In fact, individual plans for healthy families are typically half the price of employer-sponsored plans. Most employers don't want you to know this because if your spouse is healthy the employer would not collect the premium."

What To Do If You Are Self-Employed (Excerpt)

By Carrie Coolidge
Forbes Magazine, Dec. 12, 2005
Original Article (PDF)

"The solution for healthy self-employed individuals is simple, according to author Paul Zane Pilzer. These folks should buy a high-deductible individual or family policy that is qualified to be paired with a health savings account, he says. 'No one should ever go without health insurance, especially since it has now become affordable for most working people,' says Pilzer."

People who are self-employed face the same dilemma as early retirees—the burden of getting health insurance in place is on their shoulders. The solution for healthy self-employed individuals is simple, according to author Paul Zane Pilzer. These folks should buy a high-deductible individual or family policy that is qualified to be paired with a health savings account, he says. "No one should ever go without health insurance, especially since it has now become affordable for most working people," says Pilzer. The national average price for an HSA-qualified high-deductible plan is $92 a month for a single person and $272 a month for a family plan. Even better, says Pilzer, is that self-employed individuals can deduct the entire cost of health insurance premiums from their taxable income. "So your aftertax cost will be even less," he says. Pilzer recommends self-employed people open an HSA and make the maximum tax-deductible annual contribution.

If you are self-employed but you or a family member has a preexisting condition, explore a guaranteed-issue insurance policy provided by a private insurer or from your state's risk pool, depending on where you live. The rest of the family should then apply for "healthy family" coverage.

Reproduced with permission of Paul Zane Pilzer. Original Article