Affordable Health Insurance for the Unemployed
According to the National Coalition on Health Care, 15.7% of Americans were without affordable health insurance in 2004. Being without affordable health insurance goes beyond just harming the uninsured individuals and families – physically, mentally, and financially, but it also harms the country as a whole. Because America strives to provide health care for everyone, the government spends billions of dollars each year to provide low cost or free health care for people who do not have affordable health insurance. Hospitals are also faced with billions of dollars of health care costs each year for providing health care to people who do not have affordable health insurance. One of the top groups of people who do not have affordable health insurance is the unemployed. Although every employer does not offer affordable health insurance, many do and employees usually consider it one of the main perks of the job. Yet, becoming unemployed does not mean you have to lose affordable health insurance until you find another job. If you are unemployed and without affordable health insurance, there are three important options for you to consider. COBRA: The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) makes it possible for people who are no longer with their employers to continue receiving their health insurance package benefits for a specific amount of time. Contact your former employer and your department of labor for information about eligibility. HIPAA: The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) makes it possible for people who have lost their group health insurance to continue receiving health insurance. HIPAA works differently than COBRA, though their functions are similar. Check out the HIPAA Web site for details and contact information. Your State: Your state may have a health insurance continuation policy. If so, these kinds of policies usually depend somewhat on your past employment. Contact your state’s department of insurance for more information about eligibility and the steps to begin the application process. To get free quotes and learn more about insurance please visit the following recommended sites.
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