You'll probably find a list of companies selling individual coverage in your state, including those that aren't handled by brokers. The insurance department may provide shopping tips for your state, as well as insurance-company complaint records. Look into your state's insurance pool if you have been turned down for coverage because of your health. In Texas, for example, anyone who can't get coverage elsewhere must be covered by the high-risk pool, although prices can be steep. If your previous employer has 20 or more employees, the company is required by law to let you continue your group coverage for up to 18 months.
Some states have similar laws for smaller employers.
But because group plans often have more bells and whistles than you'd buy yourself, you might find a better deal by shopping on your own. Form your own small group if that's an option. Even for tiny groups, employer group policies are often subject to different rules, are more competitive, and offer lower prices than individual policies. In New Jersey you can form a group with as few as two employees, including yourself, as long as each employee works a minimum of 25 hours per week and you pay the employer's share of social security taxes for your workers. N.J. In Washington, another state with few choices in individual health insurance, self-employed people can form a group of one and have a much wider selection with more competitive prices.