Here in IL the BCBS individual insurance offerings are ~25% lower than equivalent group policies.<p>Our agent says this is the first time this has happened, but it is likely to continue for the next few years as Obamacare sorts itself out.<p>Since a portion of your medical expenses (including premiums) can be tax deductible anyways at the end of the year, the "pre-tax dollar advantage" isn't what it used to be.<p>In addition, our group plan (United) instituted 48 age bands (up from 10) which drastically increased the premiums for all the older people.<p>We wound up dropping the group coverage altogether and went with individual BCBS plans.<p>Obviously the new law forcing individual insurance to accept any pre-existing conditions and not be able to drop your insurance <i>at-will</i> also made this option more attractive than in the past.