EHealth: Individual Health Insurance Isn't That Expensive

The analysts also looked at 84,000 family plans purchased through the site.

The average monthly premium for those increased 4%, to $383, while the average deductible increased 13%, to $3,128.

The cost was relatively low partly because most of the states let insurers reject the applications of applicants who may have health problems.

In New York, for example, a state that requires health insurers to sell coverage on a guaranteed issue, community-rated basis, the average monthly premium is $339, which compare with an average of $115 to $180 in most other states.

In Vermont, a state that lets insurers charge rates for the least attractive applicants that are only 50% higher than the rates for the most attractive applicants, eHealth has no individual products available.