Orlando Harmon
If you are looking to get medical insurance now, you can consider private health insurance plans offered by commercial insurers. These plans provide coverage for medical expenses such as doctor visits, hospital stays, prescription drugs, and preventive care. You can purchase these plans individually or through an employer-sponsored group plan. If you are unemployed, you can look into COBRA, which allows eligible employees and their dependents to continue their group health insurance coverage for a limited time after experiencing a qualifying event such as job loss, reduction in hours, or divorce. There are also government programs that provide health coverage, such as Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), which provide free or low-cost health coverage to eligible individuals and families with low incomes.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Cost | Varies by insurer and plan type |
| Coverage | Doctor visits, hospital stays, prescription drugs, and preventive care |
| Eligibility | Varies by insurer and plan type |
| Government programs | Medicaid, CHIP, Basic Health Programs, ConnectorCare, Covered Connecticut |
| Special enrollment | Income, family size, and citizenship status |
| COBRA | Job loss, reduction in hours, or divorce |
| Short-term health insurance | Effective alternatives for someone looking for some sort of medical coverage |
What You'll Learn
Cost
When you are purchasing health insurance, cost is one of the first things to consider. Private health insurance plans are offered by commercial insurers and provide coverage for medical expenses such as doctor visits, hospital stays, prescription drugs, and preventive care. These plans may be purchased individually or through an employer-sponsored group plan.
Eligibility criteria and coverage options vary by insurer and plan type, offering a range of choices to meet diverse healthcare needs. Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) provide free or low-cost health coverage to eligible individuals and families with low incomes. Eligibility criteria vary by state, but typically include factors like income, family size, and citizenship status.
COBRA, or the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act, allows eligible employees and their dependents to continue their group health insurance coverage for a limited time after experiencing a qualifying event such as job loss, reduction in hours, or divorce.
If you don't qualify for a special enrollment period, you’ll have to wait until open enrollment (November 1 through January 15 in most states) to buy health insurance coverage. And plans purchased during open enrollment take effect January 1 or February 1, depending on when you enroll.
EHealth has other options that ease the burden while you wait, such as short-term health insurance and discount prescription drug plans. These are not Obamacare-compliant but can be effective alternatives for someone looking for some sort of medical coverage.
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Coverage
When you're in the market for health insurance, there are several key factors to keep in mind to ensure you’re getting the best coverage for your needs. One of the first things to consider when purchasing health insurance is the cost. Private health insurance plans are offered by commercial insurers and provide coverage for medical expenses such as doctor visits, hospital stays, prescription drugs, and preventive care. These plans may be purchased individually or through an employer-sponsored group plan. Eligibility criteria and coverage options vary by insurer and plan type, offering a range of choices to meet diverse healthcare needs.
Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) provide free or low-cost health coverage to eligible individuals and families with low incomes. Eligibility criteria vary by state, but typically include factors like income, family size, and citizenship status. Coverage includes essential health benefits such as doctor visits, hospital stays, prescription drugs, and preventive care.
COBRA, or the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act, allows eligible employees and their dependents to continue their group health insurance coverage for a limited time after experiencing a qualifying event such as job loss, reduction in hours, or divorce.
If you don't qualify for a special enrollment period, you’ll have to wait until open enrollment (November 1 through January 15 in most states) to buy health insurance coverage. And plans purchased during open enrollment take effect January 1 or February 1, depending on when you enroll. It’s for this reason that some Americans look to short-term health insurance to bridge the gap between signing up and having coverage in effect.
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Eligibility
If you are unsure if you meet the criteria for a special enrollment, an eHealth licensed insurance broker can help you figure that out and find an ACA-compliant plan if you’re eligible to sign up. Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) provide free or low-cost health coverage to eligible individuals and families with low incomes. Eligibility criteria vary by state, but typically include factors like income, family size, and citizenship status. Children's Medicaid or CHIP provides coverage for children and pregnant women.
If you’re under 26, you can get on your parent’s health plan. You don’t have to live with your parent or be claimed as a dependent. You can have a full-time job, be married, or be going to school. Ask your parent to talk to their employer or their insurance company about how to add you. Check with your spouse’s job to see if you can get on that plan. There are several government programs that provide health coverage. You have to qualify for these programs, mostly based on income.
In most cases, if you don't qualify for a special enrollment period, you’ll have to wait until open enrollment (November 1 through January 15 in most states) to buy health insurance coverage. And plans purchased during open enrollment take effect January 1 or February 1, depending on when you enroll. It’s for this reason that some Americans look to short-term health insurance to bridge the gap between signing up and having coverage in effect.
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Special enrollment
If you are looking to get medical insurance now, you can consider short-term health insurance or discount prescription drug plans as effective alternatives for someone looking for some sort of medical coverage.
Private health insurance plans are offered by commercial insurers and provide coverage for medical expenses such as doctor visits, hospital stays, prescription drugs, and preventive care. These plans may be purchased individually or through an employer-sponsored group plan.
If you are unsure if you meet the criteria for a special enrollment, an eHealth licensed insurance broker can help you figure that out and find an ACA-compliant plan if you’re eligible to sign up.
Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) provide free or low-cost health coverage to eligible individuals and families with low incomes. Eligibility criteria vary by state, but typically include factors like income, family size, and citizenship status.
COBRA, or the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act, allows eligible employees and their dependents to continue their group health insurance coverage for a limited time after experiencing a qualifying event such as job loss, reduction in hours, or divorce.
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Government programs
- Medicaid or Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). These programs provide free or low-cost health coverage to eligible individuals and families with low incomes.
- Basic Health Programs in New York, Oregon, and Minnesota.
- The ConnectorCare program in Massachusetts.
- American Indians and Alaska Natives.
Eligibility criteria vary by state, but typically include factors like income, family size, and citizenship status.
COBRA, or the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act, allows eligible employees and their dependents to continue their group health insurance coverage for a limited time after experiencing a qualifying event such as job loss, reduction in hours, or divorce.
If you are unsure if you meet the criteria for a special enrollment, an eHealth licensed insurance broker can help you figure that out and find an ACA-compliant plan if you’re eligible to sign up.
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Frequently asked questions
You can get medical insurance now by purchasing a private health insurance plan from commercial insurers. You can purchase these plans individually or through an employer-sponsored group plan. Eligibility criteria and coverage options vary by insurer and plan type.
Some options for getting medical insurance now include Medicaid, Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), short-term health insurance, and discount prescription drug plans.
Eligibility criteria for Medicaid vary by state, but typically include factors like income, family size, and citizenship status.
Eligibility criteria for CHIP also vary by state, but typically include factors like income, family size, and citizenship status.
