Whenever a person loses a job, they face some tough times. As you probably know, the unemployment numbers are still pretty bad. Unemployed workers need to figure out how to get bills taken care of with much less (or no) income. Many are also worried about health care.
But unemployed people can find some ways to get health coverage for their families. There are unemployment health insurance alternatives that should be checked out! The right health plan to tide a family over will depend upon their own situation.
Some terminated workers can extend their company health benefits because of COBRA laws. Some people should consider this option as their group benefits may be very good and hard to replace!
COBRA benefits are not open to everybody though. Every company is not required to extend them. Even if an ex-employee does get a group plan extension, the premiums may be very high. When employed, the employee just had to pay the employee contribution. Now the terminated employee will probably have to pay the company contribution too.
An individual health insurance policy may actually be a better alternative for many families. There are probably dozens of private insurance companies on the market in most areas. However, private plans may not provide the same benefits that you were used to with your old group policy.
Some people can get declined for individual health insurance because of a pre-existing health condition. This could be diabetes, high blood pressure, or even pregnancy! They may have to look for other options.
There a a solution for insurance declines. Every state, and now the federal government, has a high risk heath get urance plan. This can still be expensive, but it does offer to cover people who got declined for individual insurance.
If you would like to learn more about high risk health pools, search for your state website. They will have more details about the state plan, and they should also have updates about the new federal health reform plan.
If you have lost your income, and also have few assets, you might try to apply to Medicaid. Medicaid is the US health insurance for poor people and families.
Children and pregnant women may be able to qualify for CHIPS. CHIPS is the children’s health insurance plan for families with low to moderate incomes. The guideliness are not as tight as Medicaid, so it can even help many middle income families.
Other resources are state, federal, and county health systems. Some have clinics and other programs that charge fees based upon a sliding scale. One good place to search for all sorts of medical help is the Partnership for Prescription Assistance. The website, PPARX.org, has lots of resources.
Nobody is trying to tell you that it is easy to find health insurance when you are out of work! But there are some alternatives you should research before you have an emergency!
Understand your choices : HSA vs PPO! We can also help you find individual health insurance quotes to shop and compare.