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."

Why Choose a High-Deductible Plan?

You can typically save $240/month by raising the Annual Deductible on your Health Insurance by $2,000

High-Deductible Plans offer the same catastrophic coverage as Traditional Co-Pay Plans if you become very ill or have a major injury. But because they do not usually cover doctor's visits or regular prescriptions, they can protect you from medical bankruptcy for a much more modest premium than you would pay for a Traditional Co-Pay Plan. If you are healthy, you will probably save hundreds or thousands of dollars every year by moving to a less-expensive High-Deductible Plan and investing your savings in maintaining your good health.

Qualify For a Health Savings Account (HSA)

Individuals with annual deductibles of $1,050 or more, and families with annual deductibles of $2,100 or more, qualify to open Health Savings Accounts (HSAs). HSAs are investment accounts similar to IRAs or 401(k) plans, with one major difference: HSAs allow you to withdraw funds at any time tax-free to pay for any medical expenses—even those you incurred years before.

Buy your own high-deductible policy, open an HSA, and begin investing money tax-free that will build tax-free interest for the rest of your life. Save your medical receipts now, and reimburse yourself for those expenses in retirement, after your investment has accrued years of interest.

Save Thousands Every Year In Premiums

Health insurance plans with higher deductibles offer much lower monthly premiums:

Typical Family Health Insurance Savings
$500 vs $2,500 Annual Deductible
$500 Annual Deductible $500.00/Month
$2,500 Annual Deductible $260.00/Month
Monthly Premium Savings $240.00/Month

You Can Typically Save $240/month, $2,880/year by raising the Annual Deductible (per person) on your Health Insurance by $2,000. However, you may not be comfortable accepting the higher risk of having a $2,500 Annual Deductible per person on each family member. Or, you may want better coverage if you or a family member has an accident.

For $27.99/month, you can obtain $2,500-Benefit Accident Medical Coverage for your family—this pays you up to $2,500 per accident in medical expenses for each member of your family (no limit on number of accidents). This saves you $212/month, $2,544 a year, and provides you better coverage ($100 deductible) in the event of an accident or injury.