The Recession Hurts – Buying Health Insurance While Unemployed
With the recession upon us, unemployment has become a reality and is at an all time high. The media and organizations are getting information out to the public on how expensive health insurance can be when combined with unemployment income, or the lack of income. It is so true that health care costs are on a rise, even more so when you elect to take on the expense of COBRA (Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1986). Fortunately, there are other options families have to choose from. Health insurance is a necessity, like food and shelter. It is not worth the “cost” of not having health insurance. With COBRA being at the high expense that it is, most people move to alternative means of healthcare, such as a Short Term Medical (STM) or their own private health insurance plan.
There is the argument that if you have a pre-existing condition you will not be able to get any coverage or have to settle for lack of coverage. This is true; if you have one of over 150 conditions out there you can become uninsurable. You will not be able to buy coverage on your own outside of the high-risk pools. COBRA has its downsides when it comes to pre-existing conditions as well. However, the most common conditions are usually covered, as well as many other conditions that could be covered, only if you work with the right health insurance agent. A truly independent agent has the ability to develop relationships with multiple carriers along with the ability to converse with them to see what the probable outcomes are. Some of my best clients are still amazed that I was able to get them coverage, often times better than what they had before despite the pre-existing condition.
Another option for families who are on a tight budget is taking on a Short Term Medical (STM). Basically, you are renting a health insurance policy for catastrophic, only over a short period of time. The health insurance companies give you a break on the price because:
1) The policies expire at a maximum of 6 months with an option to renew.
2) They may only provide a discount for the minor things such as, but not limited to:
- Doctor Visits
- Lab Work
- Wellness
- Rx coverage
The downsides to having an STM are:
1) Like COBRA, the policy eventually runs out. If you develop a health condition while on the policy and you need to continue cbdinflation.com, the insurance company may turn down the renewal.
2) If the condition is on their list of conditions that are uninsurable, even if the treatment is over, a policy would not be offered for that individual.
