If you have seen the news, you probably know that the US unemployment rate is still very high. People who lose a job have a lot of stress. They need to look for a new job, but also how to pay bills without a paycheck! Health insurance plans can be one expensive bill that just will not fit into a strained budget!
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.
COBRA is a law which requires some companies to extend group heath benefits. This can be the best option for some families, especially if they rely upon comprehensive group mediccal benefits for current health issues.
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.
Some individuals or families may have cheaper alternatives. There is a large and active private major medical market. Premiums may be lower for some families and individuals. However, private plans may not cover everything that a group plan covers.
One big issue for people seeking private medical plans is that not everybody will be accepted. Some applicants are denied for coverage because of pre-existing health conditions or lifestyle issues.
Every state has some sort of high risk health pool for declines. It can be a good option for people who cannot get other coverage, but it can also be expensive in some states. There is a new federal health plan that should have lower premiums, but it has not been fully implemeented yet in every area.
Look for more details abot state and federal high risk health insurance in your state. The national plan is new, and still evolving, but your state website should have updated details.
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.
There are also county health systems and federal clinics that provide some health care on a sliding scale fee. The Partnership for Prescription Assistance runs a website which helps people find low cost or free prescriptions. Their website, PPARX.org, is a great resource to find all sorts of medical help if you do not have much money.
It can be very tough to find the right health care when you lack health insurance. Some options are in place if you know where to look!
Have you lost a job?? Visit here for information about COBRA health alternatives. We have some unemployment health alternatives!