Health Insurance My company offers health insurance benefits but the monthly premium is $950. Do I have to sign on with their health insurance or can I find my own cheaper insurance somewhere else? Written by Penny Gusner Penny Gusner Penny is an expert on insurance procedures, rates, policies and claims. She has extensive knowledge of all major insurance lines -- auto, homeowners, life and health insurance. She has been answering consumers’ questions as an analyst for more than 15 years and has been featured in numerous major media outlets, including the Washington Post and Kiplinger’s. | Posted on: May 30, 2014 Why you can trust Insure.com Quality Verified At Insure.com, we are committed to providing the timely, accurate and expert information consumers need to make smart insurance decisions. All our content is written and reviewed by industry professionals and insurance experts. Our team carefully vets our rate data to ensure we only provide reliable and up-to-date insurance pricing. We follow the highest editorial standards. Our content is based solely on objective research and data gathering. We maintain strict editorial independence to ensure unbiased coverage of the insurance industry. You can try to find cheaper insurance elsewhere, such as your state’s health insurer marketplace or directly from an insurer. However, 2014’s open enrollment period is closed unless you qualify for a special open enrollment period, such as getting married or having a baby. Loss of your job-based insurance is also a qualifying event, but not if you voluntarily end it. Even if the an enrollment period were open, if you have access to employer-sponsored health insurance you could not qualify for premium discounts (in the form of tax credits) if the portion you pay to cover yourself is deemed affordable, which is defined as you pay no more than 9.5 percent of your household income for your coverage. (See “2017 open enrollment: 10 essential facts” for more information.) If you want to compare health insurance premium costs for 2015 plans, you’ll have to wait until open enrollment which will be Nov. 15, 2014, through Feb. 15, 2014. I’d suggest reading up on how to buy individual health insurance and be ready to compare premiums when the time comes. Penny GusnerContributor . .Penny is an expert on insurance procedures, rates, policies and claims. She has extensive knowledge of all major insurance lines -- auto, homeowners, life and health insurance. She has been answering consumers’ questions as an analyst for more than 15 years and has been featured in numerous major media outlets, including the Washington Post and Kiplinger’s. Related Articles How to add a spouse to your health insurance plan By Huma Naeem Can I drop my spouse from my health insurance at any time? By Nupur Gambhir Can you get health insurance if you retire at 62? By Shivani Gite How COBRA works if you move out of state By Barry Eitel Can my parents kick me off their health insurance By Shivani Gite Does my deductible start over if I change jobs? By Shivani Gite ZIP Code Please enter valid ZIP See rates