How To Get Health Insurance During A Pandemic

​US unemployment continues to grow with unprecedented mass layoffs at work. According to the labor department, 30 million Americans are now jobless, with the pandemic damaging the economy. 

As more and more are being laid-off, access to quality healthcare is needed more than ever. If there’s anything, health insurance is needed even more because of the pandemic. 

Here are several different ways to get health insurance, even during a pandemic:

Health Insurance Under The Affordable Care Act
For those experiencing job loss because of quarantine, one way to get health insurance is to visit Healthcare.gov. Since losing your job during a pandemic is considered a “qualifying life event,” you can get this plan. You can also visit your own state’s insurance exchanges.

However, time is of the essence with this one. You need to enroll your health insurance within 60 days, the moment you lose your job. Some may get a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) if you are eligible. 

Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) 
Thanks to the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA), after losing their jobs, workers can now extend their health coverage up to 18 months. It lets you stay in the same place, with everything identical to when you were still employed. 

However, only get this health plan, if it is within your budget as it can be quite expensive. Insurance agencies are required to inform you if you can get the COBRA option. For those who have the option, you have precisely 60 days to get it. 

Medicaid
Medicaid is a national health plan program that targets low-income people. State governments and the federal government fund this plan. For this reason, it is free for eligible people.

Conclusion
According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, at least 26.8 million Americans could become uninsured after losing their jobs. Finding an affordable healthcare plan is difficult when everyone else is also looking for the same affordable plan. However, that should stop people from having one. Healthcare should be accessible to everyone, especially during these trying times.  

At Insurance Agency Network, we do our best in making sure that our clients are well-protected with affordable and comprehensive policies. We make sure to go the extra mile to help you with your needs. To learn more about how we can help you, please contact our agency at (425) 681-0996 or Click Here to request a free quote.