If you’re one of the 25 million people in the U.S. who don’t have health insurance, there is likely a coverage option that will work for you.
Are you self-employed or working in the gig economy?
Check out the health insurance marketplace at healthcare.gov, where you can shop for and enroll in private health insurance coverage. Depending on household income, most marketplace consumers are eligible for help paying the cost of their marketplace health insurance premiums.
Do you need coverage to tide you over until you find your next job?
Many employees who lose their job-based coverage can keep it through COBRA for up to 18 months following a qualifying event, such as loss of a job or reduction in hours. COBRA will also cover your spouse and dependent children in the event of a divorce or legal separation.
Do you have limited income and resources?
Medicaid provides coverage for some low-income people, including families and children, pregnant people, older adults who also have Medicare, and people with disabilities. Some states have expanded their Medicaid program to cover all adults below a certain income level.
Are you struggling to afford health insurance for your children?
The Children’s Health Insurance Plan, known as CHIP, provides free or low-cost health coverage to children and teens in families that earn too much money to qualify for Medicaid. Children in a family of four earning up to $80,000 a year or more may qualify. (Income levels vary by state.)
Are you receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits?
You may know that Medicare provides health insurance coverage to people aged 65 or older. You may not know that Medicare also covers people of all ages with disabilities who receive SSDI payments, after a 24-month waiting period. There is no waiting period for people who have ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease). The waiting period is less than 24 months for people who have permanent kidney failure (ESRD). Spouses and dependent children of people with ESRD may also be eligible for Medicare benefits.
Beginner tip
Depending on household income, people without health insurance may qualify for free or discounted care, called financial assistance, when they receive healthcare services from a hospital. Details are provided on each hospital’s website. Hospital financial counselors will also help you determine if you qualify for insurance coverage under various programs.
Advanced tip
Don’t assume your children aren’t eligible for Medicaid or CHIP coverage because you are employed. Many children who are eligible for these programs are in families where one or both parents are working. Working parents may not have health coverage through their jobs or the health plans they’re offered may not cover their children. Many working families can’t afford health insurance on their own.