Individual health insurance is health insurance that insures you in the event that you become injured or acquire an illness. Individual health insurance is a prudent investment if you are self­employed or work for a company that does not offer health insurance. Buying an individual policy requires careful shopping because coverage and costs vary from company to company. Most individual policies allow you to choose any doctor or hospital and pay for services on a fee for service basis. This means that the health providers receive a fee for each service such as an office visit, laboratory test, or medical procedure. When you buy an individual health insurance policy, you must usually show proof of good health to the insurance company before they will agree to insure you or your family members. Some health insurance providers even require a pre­acceptance health exam.