Health insurance for young, healthy individuals may seem unnecessary, but this is far from true. Some type of health insurance policy is essential for staying protected from heavy medical bills, and as young buyers get some of the best health insurance rates available, there's no excuse for going uninsured.

Thanks to recent legislation, people under the age of 26 may be able to stay on their parents' health insurance policies. There are a few limitations on this, however, and some young people don't have actively insured parents or are otherwise ineligible. So called "catastrophic" health insurance policies are a decent alternative. A health insurance policy is considered to be catastrophic when it has a high deductible, usually around $1,500 or more, which makes it useful in catastrophic situations – for example, during a major illness or after a serious accident–but not for smaller medical issues. Health insurance companies don't categorize plans as catastrophic, so any health insurance policy with a high deductible will do when the goal of a health insurance policy is to keep the policy holder safe from serious financial straits rather than to provide more comprehensive coverage for everyday medical bills. High deductible health insurance for young buyers is very inexpensive, so it's one of the most affordable options.

Some young, healthy buyers might be looking for protective insurance. Health insurance companies usually offer great rates to younger buyers, so there's no better time to get a reasonable insurance policy. However, it's still possible to overpay. For the best possible rates, younger buyers should collect health insurance quotes from a variety of sources and compare them. It's important to remember that the cheapest policy isn't necessarily the best health insurance option. Things like deductibles and physician choice should certainly be considered, especially when a policy will be used to protect a family rather than an individual. Young buyers should speak to an insurance agent for help in making policy buying decisions and to get answers to questions about policy terms and coverage. It may also be a good idea to look into group health insurance, particularly if a younger buyer works as an independent contractor or is otherwise self-employed.

It's never too early to start thinking about health insurance, and by looking online for quotes and understanding a bit about how health insurance works, young, healthy buyers can lock in great rates. Whether a young person needs a simple catastrophic health plan to cover the costs of major illnesses or a low deductible health insurance policy to support a family, buying young helps to avoid a lapse in coverage and keeps premiums at an affordable level.