How to Get Health Insurance Without a Job

The majority of Americans of working age are covered by employer-sponsored health insurance, but if a job with health insurance is lost, it can be difficult for the person to continue having coverage. Fortunately, folks who are unemployed and in need of health insurance while they look for work have a variety of possibilities.

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) offers special enrollment periods for people who have lost their jobs, the ability to extend current coverage for a while, and access to publicly funded healthcare programs that provide complete coverage. Especially because adding a fee during a period of unemployment can put a strain on your budget, you may be wondering "how much is health insurance without a job?". The type of health care coverage you are eligible for determines how much you will spend.

Continue reading to discover how to obtain health insurance without a job and what to anticipate from the various options that become available to you in the event that your employment is lost.

COBRA

The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act is whence COBRA derives its name. It was first implemented in 1985 and permits people to keep employer-sponsored health insurance after specific events, such as a change in their own employment status or the termination of a spouse's or parent's employment.

Examples of possibilities that might let you get COBRA coverage are those mentioned above. Normally, you will have 60 days to determine whether to elect COBRA benefits. But, you'll discover that COBRA health insurance coverage might be pricey because you pay the entire amount as you research how to get good health insurance without a job. If your employer didn't cover at least 50% of the premium, you might be allowed to use tax credits to your COBRA coverage, but you might opt to use the special enrollment period for a marketplace plan instead.

Medicaid, Medicare and CHIP

These three programs are run on a federal and state level by the federal and state governments. The programs you qualify for depend on your age and situation.

Medicare

Medicare is a federal health insurance program for those who are 65 and older. If you’re unemployed and at least 65 years old, you can apply for Medicare Part A and B. Supplemental health insurance plans are available and fill in coverage gaps in Medicare.

Medicaid

Medicaid is a federal program that’s administered at the state level. You have to have income and assets that are lower than your state’s maximum income limit to qualify. Check with your state’s Medicaid program to find out more about qualifying.

CHIP

The Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) is a federal program for families who don't have access to health insurance yet make too much money to be eligible for Medicaid. Also managed at the state level, CHIP varies in price and coverage from one state to the next. Yet, all states provide complete pediatric health care, which includes emergency services, eyewear, vaccinations, dental and visual care, and more.

ACA Insurance

If your annual income is too high to be eligible for Medicaid or CHIP, you also have access to ACA-compliant insurance, sometimes referred to as Obamacare plans.

Via the marketplace, health insurance exchanges, and use of advance premium tax credits, you might be able to purchase health insurance even if you don't have a job. Anybody earning up to 400% of the federal poverty level is eligible for advance premium tax credits (FPL). In 2021, the federal poverty line for an individual is $13,590, while the 400% line is $54,360. While the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) abolished the subsidy cliff until 2025, you can still be eligible for a premium subsidy. This means that a person who makes 400% of the FPL or less can still benefit from the premium tax credit and lower their premium costs.

ACA compliant plans are required to cover 10 basic benefits:

Care before and after a child is born
Preventative visits
Outpatient services
Emergency room visits
Inpatient care (care in hospital)
Prescription drugs
Mental health and substance use disorder services
Lab services
Pediatric services, including oral and vision care
Rehabilitative and facilitative services

Can I cancel my marketplace plan after I get a job?

When you land a job with health insurance, you can indeed terminate your marketplace plan. Employers do not have an open enrollment period, and after enrolling and receiving a start date for the health insurance plan provided by your employer, you may terminate your marketplace plan.

Find the right insurance plan with eHealth

If your employment situation has changed, eHealth can assist you in locating the top health insurance option in your state. We have qualified agents in every state that are prepared to assist you in locating a health insurance strategy that satisfies your requirements and price range. You have three options for enrolling in a plan with eHealth: over the phone, using our live chat feature, or on our website. After enrolling, we provide round-the-clock support to assist you in managing your plan. To understand more about your alternatives, research the individual and family health insurance policies in your region.

Individual private health insurance

You can acquire an individual private health insurance plan from a non-government exchange. Your alternatives for coverage are more varied when you shop on a private market like eHealth. Also, you will be able to look for ACA-compliant plans and even submit a subsidy application through eHealth by proxy.

Remember that the ARPA changed the requirements for subsidies, so you might now be eligible for help even if you weren't before. Enrollees are no longer allowed to contribute more than 8.5% of their income toward their insurance coverage, down from nearly 10% under the earlier restrictions.

Short-term health insurance

A sort of restricted health insurance that only covers you for a few months is known as short-term health insurance. It can be used in situations if you are unable to obtain another type of coverage and your job loss disqualifies you from the ACA's special enrollment period. As long as the duration of the policy is less than a year, you can purchase a short-term health insurance plan that lasts as long as you require. The most typical application of this kind of plan is to fill a coverage gap until the start of the ACA's Open Enrollment period.

Catastrophic insurance plans

Catastrophic insurance plans offer protection in the event of a major health catastrophe, such as an unforeseen illness or accident, but they only cover a minimum of three primary care visits and don't provide routine medical care. Before to the plan paying for basic medical care, you must first achieve your deductible through out-of-pocket costs. Catastrophic insurance plans frequently have high deductibles, but if you just need coverage for an unexpected medical emergency, this may be to your advantage.

Joining a family member’s plan

If you meet the requirements, you might be permitted to enroll in a family member's plan. A family member might modify their current plan to include their spouse and minor children. A spouse may be added up to 60 days after marriage, and dependents may be added if you claim them as such on your taxes. You can also include dependent relatives.

How can I get health insurance without a job?

Given that 50% of Americans have employer-sponsored health insurance, group insurance through an employer may be the most popular way to get health care, but it is not the only option. If you become unemployed, you have a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) that gives you 60 days to sign up for an individual or family health plan. Additional circumstances that could qualify you for a SEP include:

Changing your marital status
Having a baby (or adopting a child)
Becoming a US citizen
Moving to an area where your current plan is not offered
Losing health insurance from your employer

Once you've entered your SEP, you may purchase unemployed health insurance through your state's exchange or a registered broker like eHealth. If you select an Affordable Care Act (ACA)-compliant plan and are unable to purchase it on your own, you may be eligible for subsidies. More people than ever before are eligible for subsidies as a result of increases in subsidies brought on by the ARPA.