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What you need to know before buying Health Insurance  

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Health Insurance after Losing Your Job

The majority of Americans who do have health insurance coverage get it through their employers. The employer and the employee usually split the price of the premiums so the cost for the worker is greatly reduced. That means you can usually afford the coverage since you are sharing the expense of the premium with your employer. If you loose your job, you become responsible for one hundred percent of the premium cost.

Unfortunately, jobs today aren't always secure. People are fired, down-sized, and laid off for a variety of reasons. Consequently, giving room for a financial strain and jeopardizing their ability to pay for health insurance coverage. In particular, those who have pre-existing conditions, such as diabetes, may feel particularly vulnerable in this regard.

The good news is you have more options than you might think when it comes to health insurance after losing your job.

Two Laws to Know

If you are insured through your employer and lose your job, there are two laws that can be of assistance to you. One is COBRA (Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act). The act was signed into law by Ronald Reagan back in the mid-1980's but many people don't know it even exists.

Basically, the law requires your employer to allow you to continue your coverage in their group policy for at least 18 months up to 36 months.. The good news, of course, is that you'll have time to find a new job and new health insurance without losing your coverage. The bad news is you'll have to pay the entire cost alone and that's often quite high, especially if you are on unemployment and looking for a new job.

Another important law is HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Affordability Act) which became a law about ten years after COBRA. This law basically says that as long as you have been covered by a group policy during the last 63 days, then you cannot be rejected for coverage by any insurance company. The good news is you don't have to worry about not being able to find coverage. The bad news is the insurance company will still be able to set your premiums based on your age and health so you may not be able to afford the insurance they offer.

Other Health Insurance Options

If you've lost your job and can't afford health insurance through the two laws above, then you do run the risk of being denied coverage if you have pre-existing health conditions. Thankfully, three-fifths of the states have high-risk pools designed for people who can't get health insurance on their own; however, the premiums are relatively high and the coverage is sometimes limited.

You may also want to check with your state to see what programs are available to help people in your situation. Some areas have clinics that charge payments for services based on a sliding fee scale. Some states also have laws in place to keep premiums low or to subsidize the costs of premiums.

Final Word: Losing your job and your health insurance can be a significant blow, but you do have options available while you are searching for a new job and health coverage.

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