Consumer Reports critical of individual health plans

An investigation by Consumer Reports finds individually purchased health plans may not offer coverage consumers expect and may place policy holders in jeopardy of significant medical bills.

"Individual insurance has become a nightmare for consumers," Nancy Metcalf, senior program editor at Consumer Reports, said in a news release. "It's expensive and difficult to get for people who have a less-than-perfect medical history. And people who do purchase a policy often don't understand what they've bought until it's too late and they're faced with hospital bills that their plan won't pay."