How to Get Health Care Coverage for Uninsured

Healthcare costs and insurance premiums are at record highs, so the loss of healthcare coverage due to job loss or layoff can be devastating if families aren't prepared. Know your options and keep your family safe and healthy when insurance through an employer is gone.

Things You'll Need

• Telephone numbers or Internet addresses for alternatives to group health insurance.
• A plan in the event insurance is lost.

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Instructions

• 1

  Begin with your primary care provider. Doctors and clinics work with regular patients when health coverage is terminated. Monthly payment schedules, adjusted prices for treatment and free medication samples may be available.

• 2

  Keep catastrophic insurance. A trip to the emergency room could cost a small fortune depending on treatment. Catastrophic or accident insurance is a good thing to pick up if you have to let everything else go.

• 3

  Apply for student accident insurance to cover children in the event of an accident. This coverage protects children before, after and during the school day. Information about this insurance usually comes home within the first few days of school.

• 4

  Purchase Short Term Medical plans when a permanent plan is pending or unavailable. Coverage can be purchased for 30 days up to 185 days depending on your state.

• 5

  Have a low cost dental plan in place to ease the burden. Most group health insurance plans don't cover dental or optical. Without group health insurance these out-of-pocket expenses are the first to go.

• 6

  Consider state health programs when COBRA when all other options cost too much.

• 7

  Investigate alternative health care coverage available to chronically ill children. Hospital Social Workers are there to help families apply for benefits.