Pricing is probably the most bewildering aspect of individual health insurance policies, and this is why it is necessary to shop around before you buy. For instance, the premiums for similar products from different insurers can vary by as much as 50 percent for the same person. What's more, the rules and regulations about individual health insurance vary from state to state, making comparison-shopping difficult.

The first step is to evaluate your needs and understand your health insurance options.
If you're faced with finding individual health insurance, don't let the confusion tempt you to go without. Even if you're healthy, you could fall off a ladder or have a serious car accident and be financially ruined. Plus, you'll lose your pre-existing-conditions coverage in most states if you go without insurance for more than 63 days, an interval set by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).

Finding the right balance of health insurance coverage and cost can be challenging, but it's a necessity. So take your search one step at a time. The first step is to evaluate your needs and understand your health insurance options. For some, that may mean buying COBRA coverage from your former employer. COBRA is best seen as a safety net. You have 60 days to make a decision about whether to enroll in COBRA, and when you do, the coverage is retroactive.