How Do I Get Healthcare If I Am Unemployed

How Does The Affordable Care Act Work

Under the Affordable Care Act , people with pre-existing conditions can get coverage through a health insurance exchange. If you dont have any health insurance, you can apply for Medicaid or a state-run health insurance program.If you are employed, your employer must provide you with health insurance or pay a penalty. You cant be fined if you have less than 9 months of coverage in the past 12 months. Most small businesses are exempt from this requirement.There are also other ways to get affordable health care. The Childrens Health Insurance Program provides coverage for children who dont have Medicaid or private health insurance. You can also receive assistance from the government to buy a health insurance policy on the exchanges.

If I Am Eligible For Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Do I Need To First Apply For Unemployment Insurance

States must have a process for determining that Pandemic Unemployment Assistance applicants are ineligible for regular unemployment benefits, which may not include filing a regular claim as a first step. States are not required to take and adjudicate a full claim for regular unemployment insurance benefits to meet this requirement. While states are not prohibited from taking a full claim, to facilitate expedited claims processing the U.S. Department of Labor has discouraged states from doing so. Individuals should apply using the states PUA application process and, in states that have not yet established that process, must wait until it is established.

Newly Unemployed Uninsured May Be Eligible For Public Health Coverage

It all sort of came at one time, said Ramsey, 38, of Glenside. I lost my job. A couple days later the lockdown in Montgomery County happened. I wasnt so concerned at first, but I quickly realized things were changing pretty rapidly.Coronavirus Coverage

Not only had Ramsey lost her job, her family lost their health insurance.

Newly unemployed and uninsured individuals may be eligible for a plan through the federal marketplace, healthcare.gov. Others may have low enough family incomes to qualify for Medicaid.

Even if you anticipate being rehired in a few months, its worth finding out if you are eligible for another insurance plan, said Antoinette Kraus, executive director of Pennsylvania Health Access Network , which helps people enroll in healthcare.gov plans and Medicaid.

You never know when you might get sick or need health coverage, she said.

How to get MedicaidMedicaid may be an option for people whose income has dropped to within 138% of federal poverty $17,618 a year for an individual and $36,158 a year for a family of four.

Unemployment pay counts as income, but the federal stimulus payments promised by the federal government do not.

Medicaid coverage is retroactive, but processing the application can take up to 30 days. If you have an urgent medical need, note that in your application state reviewers may expedite your case.

People who sign up now will have coverage that takes effect May 1.

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If My Employer Voluntarily Provides Health Insurance Benefits Is It Obligated To Provide Benefits To All Employees

Maybe, depending on the employer. Employers covered by Obamacare must provide health insurance to at least 95% of their full-time employees and dependents up to age 26. Otherwise, an employer is free to cover some, as opposed to all, of its employees. For example, salespersons can be excluded from an insurance plan while administrators are covered.

Exception: If an employee is entitled to participate in an employer-provided health benefits plan under ERISA, an employer may not wrongfully deny participation. To qualify, an individual must be classified as an employee, not a temporary worker or independent contractor and must be eligible to receive benefits according to the terms of the plan.

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How Can I Apply For Health Insurance If Im Unemployed

There are various ways to apply for health insurance if you become unemployed. If you would like to continue with your work-based policy under COBRA, you should talk to your employer. They should notify you within 14 days of a qualifying event if youre eligible you then have 60 days to apply.

A cheaper option may be to find a policy on the Health Insurance Marketplace. If you lose your job, you should act quickly as the Special Enrollment Period triggered by your unemployment lasts only 60 days.

Depending on where you live, you could also apply for short-term health coverage, which generally lasts up to a year, although United Healthcare has a three-year option.

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How Much Does Marketplace Insurance Cost

The cost of Marketplace health insurance depends on several factors: what type of plan you buy and how much coverage it offers, which health insurance company you choose, and whether you qualify for subsidies.

Average Health Insurance Premiums by Metal Tier

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Average costs dont count tax credits you might be able to get. People with lower incomes, such as people who are unemployed, are likely to qualify for subsidies that may dramatically reduce these costs. You could save hundreds of dollars on monthly premiums if you are eligible for subsidies and choose a Silver plan.

I Paid For Private Health Insurance While Unemployed Is That Deductible

Health insurance premiums that you paid for can be counted as a medical expenseâgo to Federal> Deductions and Credits> Medical> Medical Expenses

The medical expense deduction has to meet a rather large threshold before it can affect your return. The amount of medical expenses that will count toward itemization for someone under 65 is the amount that is OVER 10% of your adjusted gross income for someone 65 or older it would be the amount over 7.5% of your AGI.

You should only enter the amount that you paid in 2015do not include any amounts that were covered by insurance or that are still outstanding. Of course, your medical expenses plus your other itemized deductions still have to exceed your standard deduction before you will see a difference in your tax due or refund.

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What Are The Most Affordable Health Insurance Options When You’re Unemployed

The most affordable health insurance is the one where you get the most financial assistance, but even if premiums are reduced, there may be deductibles and copayments that will add costs if you get sick or injured, Dr. Miller says. In general, the most affordable health insurance for the unemployed is through your states health insurance marketplace or, if your income is low enough, through Medicaid or CHIP.

When choosing insurance, it is important to not just look at the monthly premiums because there are insurance options that operate outside of the federal rules created under the Affordable Care Act , and many of those options dont cover things like prescription drugs, maternity care, or mental health or substance abuse treatments, Dr. Miller says.

Tammy Burns is an experienced health insurance advisor. She earned her nursing degree in 1990 from Jacksonville State University, obtained her insurance billing and coding certification in 1995, and holds a health and life insurance license in Alabama, Georgia, Iowa, Mississippi, and Tennessee. Burns is Affordable Care Act -certified for health insurance and other ancillary, life, and annuity products. She maintains an active nursing license and practices private-duty nursing.

How Long Have You Been Unemployed

If you are in a bout of short-term unemployment, such as a lay-off, there is a good chance you can still be approved for life insurance. If you have a history of steady employment and plan on working again soon, many companies would approve your application.

If you have a good skill-set and have made a decent income in the not-too-distant past, there is a good chance your application would be approved since the chances of you getting a job are good.

If you worked in an industry that typically has jobs-a-plenty, insurance companies will view your application more favorably. If you worked in an industry that is on a decline, such as a dial-up Internet installer, you might have a little more trouble getting insurance.

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If you stopped working to be a stay-at-home parent, this is a different situation. While you are technically unemployed, you still work. The duties of a stay-at-home parent total many jobs in one.

Typically, life insurance companies will allow a stay-at-home parent to have coverage equal to that of the working spouse. If the working spouse makes a substantial amount of money and has a substantial amount of life insurance coverage, insurance companies may cut the coverage for the stay-at-home parent in half. Needless to say, having life insurance coverage on both parents is vital.

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Americans Are Losing Jobs And Health Insurance

During the course of the pandemic, more than 45 million people have filed jobless claims, resulting in an unemployment rate of about 13 percent. By the middle of May, the Kaiser Family Foundation was already estimating that close to 27 million people who are newly unemployed could lose their job-linked health insurance.

The Center for American Progress , a nonpartisan policy institute, suggested expanding Medicaid to as many unemployed people as possible is the best solution. The good news is that even with current legislation in place, there are options available to those who have or will lose their health insurance. In fact, of the 27 million newly-unemployed, an estimated 12.7 million people are eligible for Medicaid. An additional 8.4 million people are eligible for subsidized plans through the Affordable Care Act .

Best For People Who Want More Coverage: Kaiser Permanente

If youre unemployed but can pay a bit more each month, you can opt for a Gold plan, which covers more of your total health care costs and offers more protection. They cost more in premiums each month but have lower deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums, so you pay less as you use services. These plans make sense if you have significant health care needs and if you can afford the higher monthly tab.

MoneyGeeks pick for the best Gold plan provider on the Marketplace is Kaiser Permanente, whose average monthly premiums for Gold plans is $463.96. In contrast, the companys average Silver premium is $427.47 per month.

Kaiser Permanente

Kaiser Permanente is the highest-rated national health insurance provider, offering Gold plans on the Marketplace in nine states. Kaisers quality rating overall is 4.28 out of 5.00, the highest of all major national insurers. Its best-scoring category is prevention, where it scores 4.33 out of 5.00.

The average Kaiser premium for Gold plans is $463.96, which isnt the cheapest average rate available , but its close. Kaiser Permanente offers the best combination of quality and cost, though specific rates vary by market.

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Aca Plans Provide Comprehensive Longer

Even if youre unemployed, you may have a choice of affordable health plans that offer essential benefits required by the Affordable Care Act of 2010. Does your family need a wider range of benefits? Planning to work independently? Your income level and where you live could make ACA health coverage your best optionand well help find the plan you need.

Special enrollment period: Extended to August 15th.

To Apply You Will Need The Following Information:

• Your Social Security number, birth date, home address, email address, and phone number
• Your work history for the last 15 months, including the legal names, addresses, and phone numbers of all your employers, and your work start and end dates

TIP: Your paycheck or W-2 will show your employers legal name.

• If you have dependent children: Their legal birth dates and Social Security numbers.
• To receive payments by direct deposit, youll also need your bank name, account number, and routing number. Otherwise, DUA will send you a debit card.

TIP: If your application is approved, your payments will be sent to you by direct deposit or by debit card, depending on the method you chose in your application. The fastest way to receive payments is to set up direct deposit.

You may need to provide additional information if you are not a U.S. citizen, are in a union, were in the military, or worked for the federal government.

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I Am Now Unemployed How Can I Find Health Insurance

Health coverage options are available for people who have recently been laid off or lost their employer sponsored health insurance benefits:

• Granite Advantage Health Care Program: Medicaid Expansion coverage for no or low income individuals, ages 19-64
• Childrenâs Medical Assistance

Granite Advantage/Medicaid

You can enroll in the Granite Advantage Program or other Medicaid Programs if you are low or no income and need health coverage. There are also Medicaid programs available for children, pregnant women, and the medically frail.

• Learn more about the Granite Advantage Program
• Enroll in the Granite Advantage Program or Medicaid coverage through NH Easy or HealthCare.gov.
• There are several Medicaid Managed Care plans to choose from. Do your research to make sure that the plan you choose includes your preferred medical providers.

Health Insurance Marketplace

You can purchase medical and dental plans for yourself and/or your family on HealthCare.gov.

• How do I know if I qualify for the Marketplace outside of the Open Enrollment Period?
• HealthCare.gov provides Special Enrollment Periods for people who may have recently lost their employer sponsored health insurance coverage.
• You can apply for the SEP 60 days before they know their coverage will end and 60 days from the date you lost coverage.
• If you do not apply 60 days from the date your health insurance terminated, you will not be able to take advantage of the SEP.

Need Help?

What About Private Health Insurance

You can buy health insurance outside of the Marketplace several ways:

• Directly through a health insurance company.
• From an insurance agent representing one insurer.
• From an insurance broker representing many different insurance companies.

Some individual insurance plans sold outside the Marketplace are ACA-compliant, but many are not, so it’s important to read the fine print carefully when considering such a policy.

Short-term health insurance plans are a special type of individual health insurance. These plans last one year and can sometimes be renewed for up to 36 months. Unlike Marketplace policies, however, short-term health insurance policies aren’t required to meet ACA guidelines. As a result, these plans typically offer more limited coverage than Marketplace plans for example, they may not cover prescription drugs, pregnancy care or mental health care. They often have higher deductibles and may place an annual cap on the dollar amount of benefits you can receive.

Short-term plans aren’t required to cover preexisting conditions or even sell insurance to people who have them. If you do get a short-term plan and you have a preexisting condition, you’ll likely pay more in premiums than if you didn’t.

Comparing policies available in the individual insurance market can be confusing. Working with an insurance broker can help you navigate your options.

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Why You Need Health Insurance When Unemployed

When living in the U.S. as an unemployed or low-income person, health insurance is necessary to help you avoid taking on expensive medical debt. Around 60-65% of bankruptcies are due to medical expenses.

The cost of vital medical services causes many problems for people who have no health insurance and are unemployed. The average rate for a day in the hospital is over $2,600 nationally, rising to over $3,700 in California. If you need to stay overnight, you can expect costs to reach around $9,300 without insurance.

These costs dont include life-saving surgeries or procedures, including x-rays, labs or scans. While hospitals cant reject patients because theyre uninsured, unexpected medical emergencies can create additional stress for people without insurance. Being unemployed can make it more challenging to pay medical bills.

While medical emergencies create significant medical costs for uninsured and unemployed people, high prices can impact everyday medical needs. Without access to affordable health services or health insurance, many adults miss things they need to keep them healthy. In a 2021 study, around 29% of people said they skipped prescription medications because of the cost. Further, high costs caused approximately 39% of adults to go without dental services.

When unemployed, investing in health insurance can help protect your finances while providing you with vital medical services to keep yourself healthy as you search for work.

Get The Cheapest Health Insurance When Unemployed

Find Cheap Health Insurance Quotes in Your Area

For most people who are unemployed, we recommend getting insurance through the Affordable Care Act health insurance marketplace.

Although there are several ways to get coverage, the most cost-effective option will be with a plan that reduces your health insurance costs based on your income, as ACA marketplace plans do. For example, a health insurance plan for someone who is recently unemployed can cost $47 per month. That assumes the person chooses a cheap Bronze plan and their total income for the year is $35,000, including the parts of the year when employed.

While Medicaid is even cheaper than the ACA marketplace, it’s only available for those who meet the income requirements, which can be less than $18,754 for individuals in many states. If you recently lost your job or your spouse is employed, it will be harder to qualify for Medicaid because other income sources, including unemployment income, are included when determining eligibility.

When shopping for coverage, watch out for short-term health insurance plans and their high deductibles. The cheap prices of these plans are attractive, but before the benefits kick in, you could have to pay thousands of dollars out of pocket for medical care.

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