When is the last time you've taken a close look at your health insurance situation? If you're self employed, getting older, or if you've just lost your job, now might be a good time to do just that. When you are self employed, you don't have the luxury of having the large group insurance plan discounts generally offered as a benefit by employers. You've got to be careful to choose an affordable health insurance that gives you the coverage you need. As you get older, your health insurance becomes more important. The older you get, the more risk you incur that you will have health issues, and the higher your health premiums become. You may be interested in adding a supplemental insurance, or perhaps you have retired, and are looking for your own primary health coverage. Cobra health insurance allows you to continue with your benefits for a period of time if you should happen to lose your job. You may never have to take advantage of Cobra health insurance if you never lose your job, but it's a good thing to have if you do, so you don't have a lapse in your health insurance coverage. Shopping for health insurance when you get older can be a tedious chore, and with insurance rates on the rise, your best bet is to compare the various rates and premiums online. Nowadays, there are plenty of websites that offer health insurance comparisons online for free, and nearly every insurance company out there has their own website offering a free quote. That way you can compare the rates and benefits of companies that offer health insurance side by side, allowing you to choose the plan that is best for you, usually saving yourself 40% or more.