Losing Your Job Does Not Mean You Must Lose Your Medical Coverage

As the economic situation gets worse, more and more companies are laying off staff, and thus many more people are facing unemployment. Accompanying that is the loss of insurance coverage, which can be considered more important than the loss of income. For those with families in need of health insurance coverage, this can be a devastating blow. Insurance companies these days have become inherently scrutinizing when it comes to those who have had a lapse of insurance for a period of time. Additionally, spending a few months without coverage can exacerbate pre-existing conditions, making matters even worse.

If you're suddenly without a job, most likely you will be covered under COBRA, a Federal plan passed in'86 which allows you to continue your company's health insurance for up to' months, paying out of your own pocket. If you were under a group plan before, the cost is likely to be reasonable in many cases. However, if you are without an income, you may not be able to take advantage of the COBRA option.

It is worth investigating the options out there if you find you can't take advantage of COBRA coverage. Independent providers often offer short term or temporary health insurance, usually lasting six months at a time. These can be beneficial if you need to keep your family covered while you are between jobs. They can also often be less expensive than COBRA coverage would have been, especially if your employer paid part of your premiums.

Basic health care should be a right afforded to all people, regardless of income. The poor and shrinking middle class should not be denied health care coverage because they can't afford it. Hopefully one day soon, reasonable coverage will be the order of the day and the stress of not being covered will no longer be an issue.

If your employer doesn't offer health insurance, or if you've lost your job, there are still options. Often, some states will offer discounted plans to their citizens. Barring that, do some research online. The internet is still the best and most efficient resource for investigating health care coverage options.