Health Insurance When You Are Unemployed
Having no health insurance when you are unemployed can be uncertain. Most people who end up being terminated or laid off find that they have no health coverage in case of illness or injury. One of the ways a recently terminated, laid off or resigned employee can get health insurance is to continue for a period with his or her previous employer's insurance coverage. This is provided by federal regulation which was enacted in 1986 in the form of the COBRA act. This act requires that former employers maintain their expired employees health insurance if the employee can afford to pay the premiums. This is ideal because the former employee's health insurance is not interrupted upon termination from his or her employment. One downside to this is that the premiums are much higher being that the employer is no longer paying for the portions for the health coverage. Which in most states by law employer has to contribute at least 50%.
Another way for an unemployed person to acquire health insurance is to sign under a spouses group plan. This is ideal where one spouse is not covered by health insurance but the other is employed and covered by a group plan. The procedure involves a simple phone call to the HR benefits department. There may be additional cost to be deducted from the working spouse's paycheck.
If one is unemployed, he or she can get health insurance by simply comparing Anthem Blue Cross plans online for individuals and families. All you need is know your zip code and your date of bith. With simple online quote, comparison and application process you can be covered the same day. Plans that are designed for individuals and families do not require employment.
We have seen that as far as health insurance is concerned, all is not lost to the unemployed. One can simply continue with the COBRA coverage from the previous employer or look in to alternative to COBRA. The other way is to ask a spouse to add them to their coverage or simply purchase insurance from providers that do not require employment verification.
