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For those of you who recently lost health insurance. First, I’ve been there and it’s scary. But, don’t panic. This thread contains some resources for you.
Apply for Medicaid. You are likely eligible if your state expanded Medicaid and your new income is at or below 138% of the federal poverty level (about $18,000/year for a single adult). Non-expansion states have different criteria. https://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty-guidelines
Public programs for kids often have higher income thresholds than for adults. If you have kids, apply for coverage through your state’s Medicaid or CHIP programs. They may be able to get coverage even if you are not eligible.
https://www.medicaid.gov/chip/index.html
https://www.medicaid.gov/chip/index.html
11 states are now letting people sign up for private individual or family coverage through the health insurance marketplace. Low- to moderate-income individuals may qualify for subsidies to offset costs. This might be cheaper than COBRA plans. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/23/upshot/coronavirus-obamacare-marketplaces-reopen.html
If you take regular medications, call the manufacturer’s customer assistance line and ask about their patience assistance program. For my family, this meant my husband could keep taking a $500/month prescription without cost for 6 months after we lost insurance.
If you need to use physicians or the hospital, be upfront about your situation. Most hospitals have charity care policies through which they will discount services based on income, and many clinics will work with you on a monthly payment plan.
If you don’t already have a regular physician, call a federally-qualified health center (FQHC) for health services. FQHCs offer sliding scale fees based on income. They also often employ social workers or other people who may be able to help. https://www.fqhc.org/find-an-fqhc
Finally, losing your employer coverage is scary. I wish our system were different. But it doesn’t mean you don’t have options and you can’t get health care. Know your options. My DMs are open.
