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Individual health insurance can be expensive. Unlike group plans, in which the costs and risks associated with health care are spread among many people; individual health policies are "medically underwritten" to take into account your personal health history.

Any "pre-existing" condition such as heart disease, diabetes, and even pregnancy, can ruin your chances of acceptance or boost your premiums. To determine the acceptability of a particular applicant, a health insurance underwriter can require information regarding the following:

The individual's age: Age determines rates and whether coverage will be issued at all.

The individual's gender: at younger ages, males have a lower rate of illness and injury than females. That changes by age sixty.

The individual's health history and physical condition: Someone who has had a previous condition that can contribute to a future illness is not considered an ideal risk. In response to a less than ideal medical history, modified coverage may be offered depending on the individual's health, higher than normal premiums may be issued, or the person may be denied coverage altogether.

The individual's occupation and hobbies: Some occupations such as construction workers have higher insurance rates, along with people who enjoy dangerous activities such as skydiving or bungee jumping. At times certain occupations are considered so hazardous that insurance companies will not cover them at all.