When You Can’t Afford Cobra Insurance

When you lose your job, you also lose your valuable health insurance.

Although Cobra insurance is great for continuing coverage, especially if you have a pre-existing condition, it is outrageously expensive!

You now need to pay the portion that your former employer covered and that’s why the amount is so high.

When you have a family, Cobra can cost well over $1,000 a month.

What the heck do you do when you have no job, a small check from unemployment, or your new job doesn’t offer you health insurance until after a 90 day waiting period? When you have a medical condition or pre-existing condition, this gets even more complicated.

Obamacare doesn’t kick in until January 2014. You’re screwed if you go without coverage and you’re screwed financially to try to pay for Cobra. It’s really stressful to deal with a job loss, a drastic drop in income, and having to deal with medical necessities.

There are options. Check your county for health coverage assistance. Each state has its own program.

Do a search for “the name of your county + health plan”. For example: “San Francisco health plan”.

Find out what the procedure is to apply and which program you qualify for. FYI: The application can take several hours to fill out.

You’ll have to meet income limit requirements, be a U.S. citizen, and provide documents to qualify. It may take up to 45 days to hear back.

There are specific programs for those with children as well. Also, find out if you qualify for food stamps and the WIC program.

If you live in California, check out the services available here.

Photo Credit: Jennifer Morrow