| Losing a job is one of the most stressful things a | | | | These membership programs are great for |
| person can go through. With it, there is an | | | | providing even more discounts for those with |
| abundance of hardships and headaches a person | | | | existing insurance plans who need a little more |
| has to endure, and it often can be difficult for | | | | help with costs that aren't covered fully under |
| many to handle. After a job loss you have a | | | | their plan. |
| barrage of disheartening troubles and burdens on | | | | Medicaid: |
| your shoulders. You now have to worry about | | | | Medicaid is a government option that provides |
| finding another job, paying your bills, putting food | | | | medical care for families with low-incomes. It |
| on your table, and probably the scariest aspect of | | | | became law in 1965 and is partially funded by the |
| unemployment, how you are going to be able to | | | | federal and state governments. There are several |
| get your family medical treatment if they fall ill. | | | | criteria for qualifying for Medicaid. These criteria |
| Luckily, there are options for unemployed | | | | include age, whether you are pregnant, disabled, |
| individuals to obtain a cheap health plan during this | | | | blind or elderly. The program is state-administered |
| unfortunate period. | | | | so every state has it's own guidelines and criteria. |
| COBRA: | | | | However, in ordered to receive federal funding, |
| COBRA stands for Consolidated Omnibus | | | | certain states must offer certain services like |
| Reconciliation Act, a federal law that has been in | | | | doctor visits, in-patient and outpatient hospital |
| effect since 1986. Under this law, many | | | | services, and long-term care services such as |
| employees and their dependents are able to | | | | nursing homes. |
| continue on an employer's group health plan, even | | | | Additional services, like prescription drug coverage, |
| after the coverage was set to end. There quite a | | | | are state-based options and vary. If you end up |
| few events that would warrant an insurance | | | | qualifying for Medicaid, and don't have prescription |
| company to offer COBRA coverage. One of the | | | | coverage, you can always look into the |
| most common reasons is the when the employee | | | | aforementioned discount medical health plans |
| is voluntarily or involuntary terminated (with no | | | | which offer discounts on prescriptions to |
| issues of misconduct). For more information on | | | | members. |
| COBRA benefits and if you would be eligible, it's | | | | Alternative Healthcare Solutions: |
| best to contact your insurance provider. | | | | As previously mentioned a health discount plan is |
| Purchasing Individual Health Insurance: | | | | a viable option for an uninsured or underinsured |
| There are many Individual medical health plans on | | | | individual for many reasons. The two main |
| the market today that available to individuals who | | | | reasons are that you can save a substantial |
| don't have access to job-based coverage. These | | | | amount of money, and any one can qualify, |
| individual plan may not have as cushy packages | | | | regardless of preexisting conditions. These medical |
| as the employer-based plans, but they are often | | | | cards are available to any individual for a |
| much more affordable than a formal policy from | | | | low-monthly fee and can save the card-holder |
| a big insurance company. To help out with savings | | | | substantial amounts of money on doctor visits |
| there are also discount medical health plans that | | | | and prescriptions. |
| are essentially discount membership programs. | | | | |