Searching for immediate health insurance may entail looking into a number of factors depending on your profile. The following are some steps you may take:
Seek Special Enrollment Period (SEP) – This is the time in the calendar when you are allowed to make changes only after a significant life event such as getting married, giving birth, losing other medical insurance, or moving. Such scenarios would necessitate the granting of a special enrollment period compared to the normal open enrollment periods. It is possible to go to the exchange or contact the health insurance exchange in the state through a call to find out if you will qualify and register for coverage.
Consider Medicaid or CHIP: Based on your income and how many people a member of your household is, you might qualify for either Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) any time throughout the year, even if there is no open enrollment. Check out the Medicaid webpage or the office in your state that administers Medicaid services to find out if you’re qualified and how to apply.
Coverage Under COBRA: If you have recently lost any present health coverage due to a qualifying event such as loss of employment, you may qualify for COMAPRS (Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act) continuation coverage. This is a temporary extension of the group health insurance coverage that you had through your employer for specific period often not exceeding 18 months. Its drawback is that the member pays all of the premium including the part which the employer used to pay in addition to an administrative fee.
Short-Term Health Costume Insurance:
Make sure to buy short-term health insurance to bridge the gap, as intermediate coverage will be necessary until the member can sign up for a comprehensive health care plan in the next open enrollment period. Short duration plans are much more restricted in benefits and do not cover pre-existing conditions, so check clearly the policy clauses and list of exclusions before committing to buying.
Health care sharing ministries: Health care sharing ministries entail groups of individuals who pool resources in order to pay for one another’s medical expenses. Such mechanisms may serve as a substitute for conventional health insurance but are not without their limitations in terms of who can qualify for them and the types of services covered.
Direct Purchase from Insurers: It’s possible to buy health insurance plan direct from insurers outside the exchange or marketplace. Find out if any insurance companies will have any plans and where the rates will be by calling the insurance companies.
Familiarize Myself With Other Options: Depending on your situation, you might also qualify for other assistance or coverage options, including for example health insurance benefits provided by your employer or that of a family member, plan of a spouse or parent covering you or a member of a professional or trade organization.
When pursuing health insurance right away, loyalty should be practiced to avoid ending up without coverage. And, assess your options so that you can pick a plan that fulfills your requirements as well as falls within your financial capabilities. It would be advisable to seek the services of a licensed insurance broker or navigator for further assistance
