Friday, December 26, 2008

Keeping Yourself Insured While Unemployed

By Ethan Kalvin

As the economic situation gets worse, more and more companies are laying off staff, and thus many more people are facing unemployment. Accompanying that is the loss of insurance coverage, which can be considered more important than the loss of income. For those with families in need of health insurance coverage, this can be a devastating blow. Insurance companies these days have become inherently scrutinizing when it comes to those who have had a lapse of insurance for a period of time. Additionally, spending a few months without coverage can exacerbate pre-existing conditions, making matters even worse.

If you're suddenly without a job, most likely you will be covered under COBRA, a Federal plan passed in 1986 which allows you to continue your company's health insurance for up to 18 months, payilng out of your own pocket. If you were under a group plan before, the cost is likely to be reasonable in many cases. However, if you are without an income, you may not be able to take advantage of the COBRA option.

If you find yourself unable to take advantage of COBRA for whatever reason, you may need to find an independent provider that can give you a reasonable alternative, a short term policy, usually six months in length. These policies are specifically designed to protect your family between jobs. If your employer previously paid part of your premiums, then these policies can often be less costly than COBRA.

The stress of not being covered by a health insurance plan can claim more attention in our lives than it deserves, but nonetheless, it is an issue. Affordable health care should be a right and not a privilege just for the rich. Hopefully soon our government will be able to provide us all the coverage we deserve.

If you are in need of affordable health insurance, whether it is because you are recently unemployed or because your current employer does not offer health insurance benefits, then one of the best resources you have available to you is the internet. Look up what options are available in your state and also check out all the health care options available. There is surely a plan out there that will keep your family covered, while not taking all your income to pay the premiums.

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