Can You Get Health Insurance Without a Job?
Under 65 & Need Help Selecting Health Insurance?
Call Now: (844) 556-1677
The topic of health insurance is, more than ever, present in our day to day lives. And just because it is so present, it doesn’t mean that it is any less complicated or stressful.
On the contrary, there are so many things that should be known about health insurance: what it means, how it works, how to know if you need one or not, how to apply for one or if you are eligible or not to buy or receive one and the list can go on.
With all these things being said, in this article, we’re going to take a deeper look at health insurance for jobless people, what the options are and, of course, how to get one.
It Is Not About Your Employment Status
If you’ve just finished your studies and are struggling to get a job, if you have been laid off from work, in a just or rather in an unjust way, or if you are struggling financially, the first thing that you should know is that health insurance doesn’t take into consideration your employment status.
On the contrary, its main focal points are your income, the amount of money you earn, and your household size.
Is Your Situation Temporary or Not?
The first thing you need to take into consideration is your situation and whether this is a temporary state or not. To put it simply, you should think whether this “jobless” employment status is a temporary thing you are going through or is something more serious you have been struggling with over a longer period of time.
If you decided that the situation is temporary, you can apply for short-term health insurance coverage that offers minimal support in case of need.
The downside to this is that this type of insurance doesn’t meet the specifications of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act – thus, it does not offer the minimum essential required.
On the other hand, if your situation is a serious one, there are still affordable options available through the marketplace. Just like previously mentioned, based on the size of your household and the income of such a household, you might be eligible for a premium tax credit that will not cost you that much.
Medicaid Is Here to Help You
If you are coming from a low-income household or are suffering from disabilities, Medicaid is here to help you.
This program is designed to help cover the health insurance of millions of Americans in need. It has become so effective that some states have adopted an income limit and all people who do not reach that limit are eligible for Medicaid.
CHIP
Children’s Health Insurance Program, also known as CHIP, is an alternative for families whose income is higher than the limit needed for Medicaid but still insufficient to afford any type of private insurance. This covers for children and in some states even for pregnant women.
The Bottom Line
To sum it all up, if you’ve found yourself struggling financially or without a job, there are still options for you. Get yourself informed and make sure you don’t lose hope.