About Health Insurance for Individuals Between Jobs

Losing a job might also mean losing your health insurance. This is scary for most people who fear having an accident and not being able to pay the hospital bills. People between jobs have a few options to obtain health insurance, but these options can be pricey and the coverage might not be as solid as coverage at previous jobs. 

• Look into COBRA (Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act) coverage. If you had health coverage at your previous employer, you probably qualify for COBRA, which extends your health care after you're longer employed there. However, you must pay your employer's contribution so this can be much more expensive then when you were employed. There's a time limt for how long you can get COBRA coverage, which is up to 18 months after splitting ways with your previous employer.


• Another option is to buy a temporary insurance plan. These plans don't require you to sign a long term contract and are designed for people in-between jobs or that need temporary coverage for another reason. The rates are usually competitive but will be more than you paid for coverage under your previous employer most likely. You can keep the policy until coverage starts from your next employer. 


• Apply for Medicaid. If you have a disability you could qualify for Medicaid. The rules vary by state so check with officials in your state to see if you qualify.


• Find out if your state or city has health coverage options for people without insurance. Some states have coverage for people that don't qualify for health insurance through an employer while other cities have programs to get health care for persons with no health insurance.