How to Get Health Insurance without a Job – Overview
The loss of a job is more than the loss of income. It is also the lack of health insurance. With no reliable source of income, it gets difficult for individuals to pay for health insurance.
However, there are several ways to get health insurance without a job. You need to act fast to secure the best-suited and most affordable unemployed health insurance policies.
When you lose your job, you are entitled to a special enrolment period in the health insurance market regulated by the federal government, which lasts only for 60 days.
During this period, you should purchase private health insurance that offers incredible flexibility than the standard insurance coverage.
5 Ways to Get Health Insurance without a Job
How to Get Health Insurance without a Job – 5 Ways
Here are some of the best ways to get health insurance without a job:
1 – Sidecar Health – Best Overall Health Insurance
Sidecar Health Access Plans are low-cost and no-commitment which makes them incredibly flexible and affordable. This is why Sidecar Health is ranked as the best overall health insurance for unemployed individuals.
The insurance carrier has reinvented itself in the past couple of years by launching the Sidecar payment card used to pay for your medical treatment in cash.
As you are technically paying the expenses of healthcare services out-of-pocket, you are not restricted to visiting only those doctors and hospitals that are under its coverage.
In contrast to standard insurance, you can sign up for coverage at any time as there are no open enrolment periods to worry about.
You can buy Sidecar Health insurance plans online or through the Sidecar Health smartphone app by filling and submitting a short application form.
You can then choose 1 of 3 pre-configured insurance policies or create your own custom coverage.
Pros:
- Visit any healthcare service provider
- Lowest monthly premiums
- Advanced digital tool and platform
- Enroll and cancel at any time
To find out more details about Sidecar Health insurance packages, you can visit the official website by visiting https://sidecarhealth.pxf.io/c/2104074/887213/12196?subid1=5077508&subid2=n056f87a2ec4c4100aa8b550ecfcfbf3106.
2 – The IHC Group – Best Short-Term Insurance Coverage
The IHC Group is an excellent choice to fill a temporary gap in employer-sponsored health insurance. Short-term medical (STM) plans are considered by many to be the best way to stay covered with health insurance when unemployed.
This insurance coverage is advisable when you are sure that the unemployment is temporary and you will likely get employer-sponsored insurance in the next year. You can buy the STM plans which get activated the following day, making this one of the best choices for short-term insurance coverage.
However, you should know that STM policies are not ACA-compliant which means it does not cover federally-mandated no-cost preventive care.
Pros:
- Flexible terms up to 364 days
- Includes US$ 2 million in annual benefits
- Optional auxiliary coverage
To learn more about the IHC Group’s SMT insurance plans for the unemployed, feel free to visit the official website by visiting https://www.ihcgroup.com/.
3 – BlueCross BlueShield – Best Catastrophe Coverage
The BlueCross BlueShield (BCBS) catastrophic insurance policies are the best in the market. It is one of the most affordable health insurance options for the unemployed in the market currently.
Certain unemployed individuals qualify for this low-cost catastrophic coverage, especially those below 30 years of age and some low-income families.
If you fall in the former category, you may need to register in the BCBS’ Young Adult Plan, which is a policy designed for individuals between 18 and 30 years old who could not afford to buy health insurance otherwise.
The BCBS consists of 35 independent companies spread across the US and offers catastrophic coverage under several different names, according to your region.
Policy terms may vary depending on location but they all have common features, such as low premiums, high deductibles, and free access to preventive medicine as required under the Affordable Care Act.
Pros:
- Insurance coverage available in all 50 states
- Largest provider network
- Dedicated plans for adults below 30 years old
To find more details about this excellent unemployed insurance policy, you can visit the official website at https://www.bcbs.com/contact-us.
4 – Cigna – Best Telehealth Coverage
Cigna ranks on our list of the best health insurance without a job. All insurance plans include free access to two of the biggest virtual care networks in the US, which makes Cigna the top choice for telehealth coverage in the country.
If you are unemployed, then access to telehealth can be a real lifesaver. Telehealth helps you to save the time and cost of going to a doctor’s office and getting remote treatment for minor ailments.
This insurance cover allows free telehealth visits through partnerships with Amwell and MDLive, the two largest telemedicine providers in the United States.
Besides telehealth coverage, Cigna insurance policies also offer in-house customer services 24/7 to help answer your queries and to assist. Regardless of your coverage level, you will have a US$ 25 monthly out-of-pocket cost limit on insulin.
Pros:
- Partnership with 2 major telehealth providers
- Offers round-the-clock customer services
- All insurance coverage includes US$ 0 virtual care features
- Dental coverage offered at only US$ 19 per month
To find out more details on eligibility and insurance policies, you can visit the official Cigna website at https://www.cigna.com/contact-us/.
5 – Oscar – Best Full-Family Coverage
Oscar health insurance offers the best value for family coverage without affecting your savings when you are unemployed. There are several options to help reduce the cost of family insurance at Oscar.
Its insurance plans are eligible for tax credits and help to reduce your monthly premiums significantly if your total income is less than four times the federal poverty level.
Some of the best insurance policies by Oscar include a cap on family deductibles, in which your overall deductible will not exceed twice the individual deductible, regardless of the size of your household/family. These, and other such reasons, make Oscar the best choice for getting full family coverage when you are unemployed.
Pros:
- Eligible for tax credits
- Comprehensive smartphone app
- Cap on family deductibles
- Free virtual visits
- Free concierge services
To learn more about Oscar health insurance for a full family, you can visit the official website by visiting https://www.hioscar.com/.
Conclusion
This is how you can get health insurance without a job. These top 5 insurance carriers offer the most affordable and comprehensive health insurance coverage for individuals who have no employee-sponsored insurance as they are out of a job.
Make sure to consult with the policy agent about the pros and cons of each policy to decide the best-suited health insurance policy.
It is costly to get medical care and prescription drugs without insurance in the U.S. Here is the list of medical treatments, drugs and their cost without insurance:
Cost of Medical Carel Without Insurance
See Also
Can Employer Terminate Health Insurance Without Notice?
Medical Insurance for Self Employed
How to Apply for Medical Insurance
Grants for Unemployed Students
Disability Insurance for Physicians
How Does Malpractice Insurance Work
References
https://www.healthcare.gov/unemployed/coverage/
https://www.valuepenguin.com/unemployed-health-insurance
I am a dedicated healthcare researcher and an enthusiast specializing in medical grants, medical education and research. Through my articles, I aim to empower healthcare professionals and researchers with valuable insights and resources to navigate these critical aspects effectively.
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