Individual and Family Insurance

Major Medical—comprehensive individual and family insurance. These include deductible options from $500 to $10,000. More about Major Medical

HSA Qualifying Major Medical—comprehensive, high deductible medical insurance that qualifies for a health savings account. Health savings accounts offer some tax advantages when depositing funds and when withdrawing funds to pay qualified medical expenses. For 2008, an HSA-qualified plan must have a minimum of a $1,100 deductible for a single person and $2,200 for a family. More about HSA

Short-Term—comprehensive insurance to cover a limited period of time, usually three to six months.

Accident—insurance coverage that pays cash for specified injuries and illnesses. You receive the cash directly from the insurer to offset medical costs or help pay bills while you recover. This is a limited liability plan that is not designed to cover catastrophic events or replace major medical insurance. 

Mini Medical—limited insurance coverage that offers a capped reimbursement on specified medical costs only. These plans are designed to provide healthcare relief on medical costs at a manageable price. They have fewer restrictions and less underwriting requirements than a major medical plan. This is a limited liability plan that is not designed to cover catastrophic events or replace major medical insurance. 

Student—insurance specifically to protect a student when traveling abroad. This insurance is important for chronic illness that might require medical attention at some point during a trip. These policies will reimburse you for the cost of doctor visits, medication, and sometimes medical evacuation.

Dental—insurance designed to pay the costs associated with dental care. Dental insurance pays a portion of the bills from dentists and other providers of dental services.

Vision—insurance that provides coverage for the services rendered by eye care professionals such as ophthalmologists and optometrists. The typical vision insurance plan provides yearly coverage for eye examinations and partial or full coverage for eyeglasses, sunglasses, and contact lenses, with or without copays, depending on the plan chosen.