Finding Insurance when you’re Unemployed
When you have just lost your job things are going to be tough. If you are lucky enough to have two household incomes it could be a matter of switching a few things around and you will still have insurance. Unfortunately, there are still some jobs out there in which you cannot get insurance; thus enters the need to find affordable health insurance. There are plenty of insurance options out there, but the medical industry is in something of turmoil right now. The proposed healthcare bill has yet to come to fruition though it is meant to make things better for all around health care.
At the moment insurance companies are still in charge with their high premiums. There are a couple of options when you find yourself unemployed, but your age will certainly matter in a few of them. It is also a matter of whether you can afford the high premiums offered by some of the other options. For example, Cobra insurance is handy to continue a workplace policy, but it often has a high premium. In fact some Cobra insurance policies can be double or triple what you normally paid in a month from the company insurance you had.
It is important that if you have any pre- existing conditions to not let your insurance lapse at all. Pre- existing conditions are typically blocked by health insurance policies and more so if you do not have continuous coverage. If you find yourself faced with high premiums from Cobra or through another type of personal policy you might need to find a cash advance. A cash advance will help you get the monthly fee paid to ensure you do not lapse on your health insurance. This works as long as you have the monthly payment in your next paycheck.
If this doesn’t sound like an option there are two other choices: Medicaid or Medicare. Your age will determine if you are able to apply for one or the other. Medicaid is a US health insurance program designed to help individuals and families with low income. Chances are without a second income you could qualify for Medicaid. Medicare is also an insurance program, but it is set up for people who are over 65 or those that meet the other criteria. Disability is one qualification that can help you obtain Medicare. The downside is that both government programs take a while to process. There are also a few forms to fill out and it may require appeals. It is better to get Cobra cover initially and then try to get a more affordable healthcare insurance or government based program to ensure your healthcare is properly taken care of.