What it costs

If you don’t get health coverage through your employer or another big group, you’re likely in the “individual” or “non-group” market. That’s expensive; monthly premiums can cost as much as whole paychecks. Typically, premiums increase with age.

Below is a comparison of a few plans.

DirigoChoice, $2,500 deductible

For a 25-year-old single person, unsubsidized, $438 a month; subsidized premium based on income, from $87 to $175 a month.

For a 45-year-old single person, unsubsidized, $574 a month; subsidized premium, which is based in income, from $114 to $229 a month.

For a 60-year-old single person, unsubsidized, $657 a month; subsidized premium, which is based on income, from $131 to $263 a month.

That plan covers 100 percent of preventive care with no co-payments, including annual physicals, mammograms, colonoscopies and prescriptions (30-day supply of generic about $10 a month) before deductibles are met.

Anthem, $2,250 deductible

25-year-old individual (non-smoker), $494

45-year-old individual (non-smoker), $664

60-year-old individual (non-smoker), $741

25-year-old couple, no children, $988

45-year-old couple, no children, $1,328

25-year-old married couple with two children, $1,249.21

45-year-old married couple with two children, $1,678.62

Anthem’s $5,000 deductible plans will be $423 a month for a single person on Oct. 1; $1,069 a month for a family.

Anthem’s high-deductible policies do not cover maternity, adult care, prescriptions, emergency room and hospital services until the deductibles are met. The plans do cover well adult annual exams up to $100.

MEGA Life

$3,500 deductible, co-insurance covering 80 percent

Single adult, non-smoker, $201 a month.

Single adult, smoker, $237 a month.

For a family, non-smoker, $494 a month.

For a family, smoker, $560 a month.

Hospitalization and surgeries (80 percent) are covered after deductibles have been met. The family deductibles are met when three family members have met the individual deductible. Even after the deductible is met, many things are not covered on this plan, including maternity, well child, well adult care, mental health, substance abuse and prescriptions. The exception is if the policy holder has bought additional riders, or more coverage.

For more information:

www.maine.gov/pfr/insurance/consumer/indhlth.htm

Sources: DirigoChoice, Anthem, the Maine Bureau of Insurance