Blue Cross Health Insurance For Individuals

Blue Cross has been offering health insurance coverage since the 1920s. Insuring 1,300 in 1929, Blue Cross Blue Shield's "system-wide enrollment reached more than 100 million Americans" in 2009, according to the association. The Blue plans are offered by 39 participating insurers who offer local coverage throughout the U.S., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

BlueValue Plan

• If you visit your doctor only for annual check ups and require limited prescription medication, select the BlueValue plan. The plan is preferable to individuals and not to families, because the low premium costs are based on the probability that you will not require much medical care per year. Covered services under the BlueValue plan includes preventive care services, hospital services, including medical and surgical expenses resulting from a qualified accident or sickness and optional dental coverage.

SelectTemp Plan

• SelectTemp is especially suitable for individuals who are facing a lapse in employer coverage, waiting for employer coverage to start or individuals unable to afford COBRA insurance. The plan is also an option for senior citizens who are about to retire, but have not yet become eligible for Medicare. SelectTemp is a temporary health insurance plan designed to shield you against the medical costs of unexpected illnesses or accidents. The coverage is customizable and allows you to choose the start date, length of coverage and a deductible amount that is affordable to you.

SelectBlue Plan

• If you need regular doctor-visit coverage and are on continual prescription medication, SelectBlue may be a good option. Offering benefits such as hospital services, preventative care including physicals, immunizations and diagnostic testing, SelectBlue is cost effective for individuals who favor stable co-payment amounts for doctor visits. An optional dental coverage is available but emergency visits are not covered. The plan pays for major hospital and surgical expenses resulting from a qualified sickness or accident are covered. Coverage under the major medical portion includes your hospital stay, anesthesia services and outpatient hospital care.

BlueEdge Plan

• The BlueEdge plan is a health savings account, HSA, plan that offers affordable premiums with a decent amount of benefit choices for those who do not expect to accrue much in medical expenses. HSA plans allow you to place money into tax-exclusive accounts. HSA funds are tax deductible, and any money you use to pay for authorized medical expenses is tax free. You can receive emergency care, surgical and medical expenses and complete preventive care for you and your children with the BlueEdge plan, which is one of only two individual blue cross health plans that covers emergency room visits.

Comprehensive Plan

• For flexibility in deductible costs and co-payments, select a comprehensive plan. This type of coverage is suitable for a family with two or more children requiring regular doctor visits, prescription medications, and preventative services. Comprehensive packages are typically more expensive than the individualized packages because with comprehensive coverage, you are covered in nearly every type of medical situation, including emergency visits. The comprehensive plan is the second of only two Blue Cross individual health plans that covers emergency visits.