What If I Am Unemployed And Need Health Insurance

Other Types Of Benefits And Programs For The Unemployed

Educational Help

Federal agencies offer many unemployment education and training programs. They are generally free or low cost to the unemployed.

Self-Employment Help

Self-employment assistance programs help unemployed workers start their own small businesses. Delaware, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New York, and Oregon offer this program.

What Are Employment Insurance Sickness Benefits

The Employment Insurance program offers temporary financial assistance to unemployed workers. This assistance includes providing sickness benefits to people unable to work because of sickness, injury, or quarantine.

If you cannot work because of sickness, injury or quarantine, but you would otherwise be available to work, you could be eligible to receive up to a maximum of 15 weeks of EI sickness benefits.

Best For Singles: Kaiser Permanente

Kaiser Permanente

Why We Chose It: We chose Kaiser Permanente as our best for singles pick because they offer top-rated health insurance policies, the option to add a Health Savings Plan , and the convenience of an integrated health system.

• Streamlined online quotation and application process

• Superior ratings for customer satisfaction

• All-in-one insurance and health care

• Mobile app for the tech-savvy

• 5/5 stars rating from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services

• Limited to using Kaiser facilities

• Only available in eight states and the District of Columbia

Health industry giant Kaiser Permanente provides a range of policies at price points to suit most and has options to add a Health Savings Account, which allows you to set money aside for health care. When finances are an issue during times of unemployment, every cent counts, which is why along with their superb reputation Kaiser is our top pick for singles.

Kaiser Permanente is a managed care organization. You cannot only purchase a health insurance policy from them but also use one of the 39 Kaiser Foundation Hospitals or 724 medical offices for health care.

Policies include Medigap, Medicaid, Medicare Advantage and prescription drug plans, individual and group health insurance, dental, and vision.

J.D. Power and Associates consistently ranks Kaiser at the highest level for customer satisfaction. However, Kaiser doesnt have Better Business Bureau accreditation.

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Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program

Food stamps, officially known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program , though some states have a different name for it, is a federal program that provides beneficiaries with funds for food. Like unemployment, individual state agencies manage the food stamp program for residents of their state. If you qualify for food stamps, your food stamp agency issues you a debit card loaded with funds that you can use only for purchasing food at a participating store or farmers market.

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The above article is intended to provide generalized financial information designed to educate a broad segment of the public it does not give personalized tax, investment, legal, or other business and professional advice. Before taking any action, you should always seek the assistance of a professional who knows your particular situation for advice on taxes, your investments, the law, or any other business and professional matters that affect you and/or your business.

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How Will My Eligibility For These Insurance Options Be Determined

Your eligibility for COBRA is based on termination from your employment or a reduction in hours.

Your eligibility for Medicaid and the Childrens Health Insurance Program is determined based on your income and household size, not on your employment status.

Any discounts or lower premiums on Marketplace plans are also determined based on income and household size. Any unemployment compensation you receive during this time will need to be reported to determine eligibility.

Compare private health insurance plans, private Medicaid providers, and other low-income, affordable health insurance options free of charge into our tool below.

Find Out If Youre Eligible For Medicaid

Medicaid is a federal program that provides health insurance for people with low incomes. It may be known by different names in different states, and eligibility can vary from state to state. When you apply for Marketplace health insurance, your eligibility for Medicaid is automatically assessed. If you are determined to be eligible, the appropriate state agency will contact you about applying.

If you have children aged 19 and younger, and your income is too high to qualify for Medicaid, your children might be eligible for health insurance through the Childrenâs Health Insurance Program . When you apply for Medicaid, youâll be notified if your children qualify for CHIP.

You can enroll in both Medicaid and CHIP year-roundno need to wait for open enrollment.

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What You’ll Need To Sign Up

You do not necessarily need to provide proof of unemployment to take advantage of the savings, VanSpankeren said. However, it helps to have proof handy in case you need to submit verification.

For people already enrolled in a marketplace health plan, the process could be as simple as resubmitting your application to receive the savings. If you already listed unemployment income, you will automatically receive the savings when you resubmit, said Chang, of Progressive Community Health Centers.

Those enrolling in a marketplace plan for the first time and working with a navigator or other helper may be asked to bring proof of current income and other documents, such as a picture ID or your most-recent tax returns.

Ask what you should bring to an appointment if you are working with a navigator or other helper.

However, VanSpankeren stressed that missing documents should not stop people from trying.

“You could come to a navigator with virtually nothing, and we can figure it out. We can help you,” he said.

Covering Wisconsin is holding most appointments remotely, he said, meaning clients could locate any necessary documents while talking to a navigator from home.

Sarah Volpenhein is a Report for America corps reporter who focuses on news of value to underserved communities for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Email her at . Please consider supporting journalism that informs our democracy with a tax-deductible gift to this reporting effort at JSOnline.com/RFA.

Spouse Or Parent’s Insurance

If you’re younger than 26 and lose your health insurance, your parents can add you to their health insurance policy. They can do this even if you are married, as long as you aren’t eligible for health insurance through an employer. If you are married and your spouse is employed, see if you can be added as a dependent on his or her health insurance policy.

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Does A Car Payment Affect Food Stamps

When you register for your SNAP benefits, your caseworker will determine your qualifications based on your earnings, your household members, and the number of cashable assets, according to USDA. An asset that is considered cashable includes cars that members of the household owns. Although USDA sets the principles and guidelines for the worth of the asset, states are given the liberty to essentially determine to either execute these regulations or disregard them.

According to USDAâs vehicle policy, up to approximately $4,650 of a vehicleâs value is excluded from assets. For example, this means that if your vehicleâs worth is $5,000, only $350 of that total is considered to be a resource.

Yet there have been some instances where the vehicles entire worth has been exempt, including if you use the vehicle to reside in if the car is used to help make money, if you use it to transfer a disabled family member, or if the equity value is $1,500 or less.

However, many states exclude cars as an asset. According to World Work, they exempt vehicles as a resource regardless of what the household uses it for or what it worths. States that have total exemption include Alabama, California, Connecticut, Mississippi, and New Jersey.

Health Insurance Discount Cards

Health insurance discount cards give members access to negotiated low-cost healthcare. They’re not insurance plans, but rather an option you might want to explore as a last resort.

You’ll pay a small monthly fee and get a discounted rate on your services when you go to a doctor or hospital. You’ll still end up paying all your medical costs, but at least you’ll pay less.

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Isnt Group Health Insurance Much Cheaper

Yes! Obtaining health insurance through a group is much more economical than buying individual coverage.

However, you dont need a job to find affordable insurance because there are many opportunities for individuals to become associated or affiliated with a group.

Self employed individuals and small business owners often form their groups.

A single person may qualify for group rates as a sole proprietor and only two people are necessary to form a group under most state insurance regulations.

What Is Cobra Insurance

COBRA is an acronym for the Consolidated Omnibus Reconciliation Act of 1985. It was created to ensure that recently terminated employees temporarily continue to receive health insurance coverage under their employers plan. It also applies to employees who have had another change in employment status or a reduction in hours.

Terminated employees, as well as their spouses and dependents, are able to be covered under COBRA for up to 18 months after the termination date or reduction in hours.

COBRA coverage will be available for up to 29 months for any employee who was considered to be medically disabled within the first 60 days that they were covered by COBRA. This also applies to the disabled employees dependents even if they are not disabled.

COBRA coverage extends up to 36 months if you are facing the possibility of losing your insurance due to an employees death, or a divorce or legal separation from the employee. Most employer-based group health plans are subject to COBRA.

If you have savings until you get a new job, private health insurance may still be an option. Enter your zip above and receive free personalized quotes online today!

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Approach Your State Insurance Department

When your COBRA ends, or you cannot afford the premiums, your state’s insurance department may direct you to alternatives, such as:

• Medicaid
• Children’s Health Insurance ProgramCHIPif you have dependents
• Independent policies
• Any state-sponsored assistance

CHIP and Medicaid benefits are not included as taxable income. Your state also may keep a list of companies that offer temporary, short-term health coverage, such as those available through college alumni groups, that can tide you over. Opting for a high-deductible, low-premium plan or major medical provision when selecting a temporary or independent plan policy could save you money. An important cost factor to consider, maximum out-of-pocket expense, indicates your overall financial risk should a medical emergency strike.

Best For Telehealth: Cigna

All Cigna individual health insurance plans include free access to two of the largest virtual care networks in the United States, making Cigna our choice as best for telehealth.

• All individual plans include $0 virtual care

• Partners with two major telehealth networks

• $25 monthly copay limit on insulin

• Offers 24/7 customer service

• Dental coverage starts at $19 per month

• Individual plans only available in 10 states

• Policies must begin on the first day of the month

• Higher-than-average premiums

Access to telehealth services can be a lifesaver for anyone dealing with unemployment. Not only does virtual care save you the time and cost of getting to a doctors office, but you can also even get remote treatment for some minor ailments without having to pay for an in-person visit. Cigna includes $0 telehealth visits with all of its individual plans through partnerships with MDLive and Amwell, two of the largest telemedicine providers in the United States.

Virtual health visits arent the only advantage to purchasing health insurance from Cigna. In-house customer service is available 24 hours a day to answer questions and provide assistance. The company also places a $25 monthly out-of-pocket cost limit on insulin regardless of your coverage level.

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Are You Eligible For Ei Sickness Benefits

You may be entitled to receive EI sickness benefits if:

• you are employed in insurable employment
• you meet the specific criteria for receiving EI sickness benefits
• your normal weekly earnings have been reduced by more than 40% and
• you have accumulated at least 600 hours of insurable employment during the qualifying period or, if you are a self-employed fisher, you have sufficient insurable earnings from self-employment in fishing during the qualifying period.

Medicaid Expansion For The Unemployed

Under the Affordable Care Act, states have the option to expand Medicaid to families with incomes up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level. To rapidly absorb the unemployed into affordable coverage, states should have the option to further expand Medicaid to two categories of enrollees: 1) individuals who are receiving unemployment insurance benefits or who were receiving unemployment insurance benefits that expired during the public health emergency and 2) families with incomes up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level. As under the current Medicaid program, eligible individuals who are enrolled in ACA coverage or employer coverage would be able to switch to Medicaid.

For the first eligibility category, states would automatically enroll in Medicaid all individuals who receive unemployment insurance benefits or food stampsunder the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program regardless of their income. This auto-enrollment would be similar to the current Express Lane Eligibility option, in which several states enroll children in Medicaid or the Childrens Health Insurance Program based on their SNAP eligibility.

States would guarantee continuous eligibility for these enrollees until the end of the public health emergency, at which point their eligibility would be redetermined. If they are no longer receiving unemployment insurance benefits, they would qualify for Medicaid under the second eligibility category.

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How Do I Get Health Insurance If I Lose My Job

There are many ways to get health insurance if you lose your job. The first is COBRA, which allows you to keep your same insurance plan but can be expensive. Becoming unemployed also qualifies you for a special enrollment period, which means you can purchase any new insurance policy for up to 60 days after you lose your job. In some states, short-term health coverage is an affordable option that can keep you insured for up to a year while you look for new work.

Leave No Stones Unturned

In addition to checking out your industry trade association or school alumni organization about benefit plans they offer, you might ask local churches about any free resources in your community such as clinics. Local universities with medical schools that offer dental, eye care and psychiatric services at reduced costs could also be an option.

Some medical schools and university-affiliated hospitals conduct clinical trials that include free medical care for participants. When youâre under age 26, you can stay on a parentâs plan if youâre approaching age 65, you can enroll in Medicare within three months of your 65th birthday to get free hospitalization coverage. Using TurboTax can give you peace of mind that no deductions for which you qualify related to your healthcare expenses and job search will be missed.

TurboTax is here to help with our Unemployment Benefits Center. Learn more about unemployment benefits, insurance, eligibility and get your tax and financial questions answered.

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How To Sign Up

Go to HealthCare.gov, the insurance marketplace created by the Affordable Care Act. If you already have a marketplace plan, log in and select “report a life change.” Then update your application in order to take advantage of the savings.

If you do not already have a marketplace plan, go to HealthCare.gov, create an account and go through the application process.

You can also at 1-800-318-2596 to apply or update your application over the phone. The call center is open 24/7, except holidays.

Will The 2021 Stimulus Bill Help With Health Insurance For The Unemployed

COVID-19 is finally in the rearview mirror for many Americans and the American Rescue Plan comes with a few major health care perks. Essentially, it makes health insurance for unemployed individuals much more affordable. Lets look at how it plays with COBRA and the ACA marketplace.

If you chose COBRA to get you through unemployment, the American Rescue Plan subsidizes COBRA premiums 100% for a limited time. It also extends the dates of COBRA coverage for individuals whose right to coverage previously ended. That can make a big difference if youre in a tough spot. But rememberyou have to be unemployed involuntarily to qualify for these perks.

If you chose to purchase a plan from the ACA marketplace, and youre unemployed involuntarily, theres more good news. The American Rescue Plan increases the size of the subsidy to help unemployed folks pay for ACA health care premiums. Depending on the size of your family and your yearly income, you might be eligible for more help.

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What If Im Unemployed Because Of Covid

If you lost your job because of the COVID-19 pandemic, you should be eligible for SNAP if you meet the eligibility criteria. If you are receiving unemployment benefits, that income counts toward the income eligibility limit. Since unemployment benefits are about half of what you normally earned, many Minnesotans would normally find themselves under the income limit for SNAP while they are unemployed.

The additional weekly $600 in unemployment payments from the federal CARES Act counts as income. Households receiving this benefit are only eligible for SNAP if their total income is less than the income limit listed above.

If you have questions about what counts as income, contact the Minnesota Food HelpLine at 888-711-1151.