Health Insurance After Job Loss

Families USA lists the following options for those who need to replace health insurance coverage after job loss. You can read more about each of these options at Getting Covered: Finding Health Insurance When You Lose Your Job.

1. Find out if you can get coverage through your spouse’s or domestic partner’semployer.
2. Find out if you can continue your coverage through COBRA.
3. Find out if your state has any laws or programs that could help you.
4. Find out if you are protected under another federal law called HIPAA (the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act).
5. Find out if you are eligible for Trade Adjustment Assistance and the HealthCoverage Tax Credit that comes with it.
6. Find out if you or any of your family members are eligible for Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), any other state or local program, or VA coverage.
7. If you can’t afford COBRA and you can’t get help through a public program or any of the options listed above, shop for insurance in the individual market— but do so with CAUTION.