Can anyone recommend an affordable healthcare coverage while unemployed?

20 Comments

1. AnonymousJanuary 25,2023 at 4:22PM UTC

   Depending on the state you live in, you might qualify for state insurance.

   Not sure much about it, but Christian Healthcare Ministries advertises in my area (KS) as being budget-friendly. There might be some restrictions that won't work for you, tho.

   Good luck!

2. Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition SpecialistJanuary 25,2023 at 10:59PM UTC

   Christian Healthcare Ministries is not health insurance.

3. AnonymousJanuary 26,2023 at 6:15PM UTC

   I might have the name wrong, but there is some sort of insurance thing that a Christian group advertises. It might be more cost-sharing than insurance, but could still be worth looking into IF they cover servies that are needed.

4. Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition SpecialistJanuary 26,2023 at 8:35PM UTC

   "Christian Care Ministry is not an insurance company and it is not responsible for paying any portion of your medical bills. Rather, if your Eligible Medical Bill is paid, it is paid with funds received directly from other Members.

   Participants pay an AHP (Annual Household Portion) toward their own medical costs; expenses beyond this are eligible for sharing among the ministry's membership."

   Sounds like a big fat scam to me. Why would you send your money to them instead of just paying your medical bills if you didn't want to get real insurance.

5. AnonymousJanuary 25,2023 at 4:41PM UTC

   Have you checked the healthcare marketplace - healthcare.gov? These plans are state-specific, and you should qualify to have the open enrollment period waived because of your recent change in coverage status. Are you getting unemployment benefits? If not, you should qualify for Medicaid in your state, and depending on the amount of your unemployment may still be eligible.

6. AnonymousJanuary 25,2023 at 6:03PM UTC

   Each state typically has their own low cost plans from which to choose instead of from the government site. You could also check out the healthcare . gov site if you state allows it. These plans are set up by cost, so you could qualify for several plans within each group. Bronze plans typically offer the most benefits/savings. READ EVERYTHING CAREFULLY.

7. AnonymousJanuary 25,2023 at 10:08PM UTC

   Thank you and I appreciated everyone's advice!

8. Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition SpecialistJanuary 25,2023 at 11:01PM UTC

   Depending on what state you're in, check your state's ACA healthcare exchange or if you're considered low income from being out of work, check with the state for coverage directly from them (Medicaid).

9. AnonymousJanuary 25,2023 at 11:14PM UTC

   Medicaid . When I was let go from a job I was able to get it right away

10. AnonymousJanuary 26,2023 at 12:43PM UTC

    Check with your former HR. You may still be eligible for their continuation offer or Cobra.

    Sorry you're in this position.

11. AnonymousJanuary 27,2023 at 8:42PM UTC

    By law you can only elect COBRA in teh first 60 days.

12. AnonymousJanuary 26,2023 at 5:56PM UTC

    If you are in California there is healthy california

13. Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition SpecialistJanuary 26,2023 at 8:36PM UTC

    Covered California.

14. AnonymousJanuary 27,2023 at 1:24PM UTC

    Go through the affordable care act insurance. Because you have life changing event like loosing job should be easy. Way cheaper than Cobra usually. I had to do it about 6 years ago and was simple you can see all prices and plsns right on line.

15. Marie MackJanuary 27,2023 at 1:27PM UTC

    You might consider Health Cost Sharing orgs like Christian Healthcare Ministry. Be sure to research for your needs because this is not health "insurance" but instead the group shares cost. I was in the same position for some time & it worked well.

16. CosmosMomJanuary 27,2023 at 2:14PM UTC

    These are not recommended. They deny almost every claim.

17. AnonymousJanuary 27,2023 at 3:32PM UTC

    Is there a medical mutual in your area, I would contact them. Perhaps your auto insurance agent can recommend an agent that specializes in health care. We recently found a policy (through our auto agent) in the $300 a month range which basically covers major injuries, but it is better than nothing.

18. Rebecca A BrittJanuary 27,2023 at 9:03PM UTC

    Depending on your state, you can get good rates on the open market with the ACA

    You need to have a qualifying event in a certain time frame, so you need to act quickly.

    I was laid off and almost took COBRA, but that counts as "having insurance," and I wouldn't be able to get ObamaCare until the open enrollment period--10 months away. And the COBRA was $2500/month!

    so I declined it, and the qualifying event was losing my job. There are Advanced Tax Credits you can use to offset the total price of the insurance based on your income.

    When I was first laid off, I basically only had my husband's part-time job and unemployment, so I had the ENTIRE premium of 1200 covered. I paid NOTHING for health insurance.

    Once I started freelancing, I readjusted my income and paid $700 while the tax credit covered the difference. I probably could have put down less for income, but if you take too much tax credit, you owe when taxes are due, and that terrifies me.

    I've continued to freelance because, honestly, I come out ahead. When I was an employee at two different companies, I paid over $2000/month to cover my family, AND I had a $10K/$14 deductible.

    For 2023, I'm paying $600/month and have a $10K deductible (US health insurance sucks, but that's a different thread).

    The point is, you need to act quickly, and I don't know if you can with it being 6 months.

19. AnonymousJanuary 28,2023 at 8:29PM UTC

    When I was unemployed due to being laid off the person who was taking care of the unemployment signed me up for the state health care ( called Huskey in Connecticut) . It didn't cost me anything and it was good insurance.

20. SueJanuary 30,2023 at 7:56AM UTC

    Healthcare.gov, it does not have to be an open enrollment period if you had a qualifying event and it sounds like you do. We have the BCBS highest plan and it covers the same as the private BCBS we were paying each month to the tune of $2,000 for two adults and The Healthcare Marketplace saved us a fortune and like I said the coverage is the same but much better with no maximum co-insurance and two years ago it saved us when I was diagnosed with breast cancer. Please do not believe the naysayers, as it is no different than the BCBS I had as a federal employer, BCBS, as private pay and now under the market place plan. Good luck and if you do qualify for Medicaid they will tell you at the end of your application.