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shopaholic07
LIF Adult
Member since 5/08 1535 total posts
Name:
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Health Insurance for Unemployed?
So DH & I are both currently out of work.  We cannot maintain our coverage through COBRA, the monthly payments are just too expensive. Are there any health insurance options for couples who have no other income besides collecting unemployment?
Thanks so much.
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Posted 10/16/09 11:38 PM  |
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Re: Health Insurance for Unemployed?
Look into Healthy NY.
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| Posted 10/17/09 12:06 AM |
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donegal419
St. Gerard, pray for us.
Member since 7/07 7650 total posts
Name:
K
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Re: Health Insurance for Unemployed?
Also, i heard that the government passed a bill that reduces the Cobra payment by 60% for people that have lost their jobs due to the economy. Perhaps that would make the premium doable?
If not, check into Family Health Plus.
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| Posted 10/17/09 1:21 AM |
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MsSissy
xoxoxo
Member since 3/07 39159 total posts
Name:
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Re: Health Insurance for Unemployed?
Posted by donegal419
Also, i heard that the government passed a bill that reduces the Cobra payment by 60% for people that have lost their jobs due to the economy. Perhaps that would make the premium doable?
It's called The American Recovery & Reinvestment Act of 2009. Ask your employer about it. It was part of Obamas stimulas plan. It's Cobra at a reduced rate for 9 months.
For single I'm paying $166 a month. Not sure what the family cost would be. But it may be worth looking into along with the other options mentioned in this post.
Good luck
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| Posted 10/17/09 5:06 AM |
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CunningOne
***
Member since 5/05 26975 total posts
Name:
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Re: Health Insurance for Unemployed?
Definitely look into Family Health Plus.
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| Posted 10/17/09 10:10 AM |
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Re: Health Insurance for Unemployed?
I got the library flyer of upcoming goings-on today in the mail, and the one near my home is doing a workshop on this topic on 11/5 which is open to all from 2PM-3PM. Maybe your library has a similar program?
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| Posted 10/17/09 10:55 AM |
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BunnyWife
Insert Witty Comment Here
Member since 5/07 8274 total posts
Name:
BunnyWife
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Re: Health Insurance for Unemployed?
Posted by chmlengr
Definitely look into Family Health Plus.
I agree. I did this for about a year when I was out of work before I met DH. I feel like I received good care while on it.
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| Posted 10/17/09 10:59 AM |
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HillandRon
LIF Adult
Member since 5/05 2922 total posts
Name:
Hillary
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Re: Health Insurance for Unemployed?
Healthy NY..
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| Posted 10/17/09 3:03 PM |
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Beth
The Key to your new home....
Member since 2/06 24849 total posts
Name:
Beth
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Re: Health Insurance for Unemployed?
Posted by Mssissy
Posted by donegal419
Also, i heard that the government passed a bill that reduces the Cobra payment by 60% for people that have lost their jobs due to the economy. Perhaps that would make the premium doable?
It's called The American Recovery & Reinvestment Act of 2009. Ask your employer about it. It was part of Obamas stimulas plan. It's Cobra at a reduced rate for 9 months.
For single I'm paying $166 a month. Not sure what the family cost would be. But it may be worth looking into along with the other options mentioned in this post.
Good luck
I think it ends in December
I have payment coupons for my cobra thru to march since that's when my cobra ends and my Dec payment is $450
now I pay $169
I started in March with the reduced payment
I am hoping they extend it...but I need to start shopping around b/c my heath ins. isn't worth the full price - I took it b/c it was better then the crappy plan I had
which is also something you can look into if you are healthy- I got a inexpensive plan that barely covered anything but it was something so I wouldn't have a lapse in coverage- sadly it was the same price I paid for cobra
you got 7 doctors visits a year
I also looked into the family health plus- and unemployment is more then income requirment - I think it's $1600 a month to be in that program...such a joke IMO
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| Posted 10/17/09 7:28 PM |
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MsSissy
xoxoxo
Member since 3/07 39159 total posts
Name:
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Re: Health Insurance for Unemployed?
Posted by Beth
I think it ends in December
I have payment coupons for my cobra thru to march since that's when my cobra ends and my Dec payment is $450
now I pay $169
I started in March with the reduced payment
I am hoping they extend it...but I need to start shopping around b/c my heath ins. isn't worth the full price - I took it b/c it was better then the crappy plan I had
which is also something you can look into if you are healthy- I got a inexpensive plan that barely covered anything but it was something so I wouldn't have a lapse in coverage- sadly it was the same price I paid for cobra
you got 7 doctors visits a year
I also looked into the family health plus- and unemployment is more then income requirment - I think it's $1600 a month to be in that program...such a joke IMO
I did see it ends in December, but I wasn't sure if that was for new enrollment also. But since your payments go up, I guess it does. That really sucks! I was able to get the full 9 months..mine ends this month I emailed my old HR rep and she's looking into if it will be extended. I've been praying!
My next payment will be about $460 if it doesn't pass.
I know what you mean about the family health plus plan..I made about $17 too much for it
I was wondering if can I drop my COBRA (next month) to go on another insurance plan that's more affordable?
I need to look for something soon...don't know how we're going to pay for the COBRA increase. We will for as long as I have to but it will be tight.
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| Posted 10/17/09 7:41 PM |
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Beth
The Key to your new home....
Member since 2/06 24849 total posts
Name:
Beth
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Re: Health Insurance for Unemployed?
I am going to start looking for something cheaper now - I'll let you know what I find
I was hoping for something in the $300 range
I would love for them to extend it - that would buy me time until march
I feel so lucky that I was even able to get this- it worked out well
but my health ins. isn't great - so to me it's the not worth the $450 a month
but I do plan on going to the dentist this month just incase my new plan doesn't have dental
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| Posted 10/17/09 7:50 PM |
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shopaholic07
LIF Adult
Member since 5/08 1535 total posts
Name:
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Re: Health Insurance for Unemployed?
Thank you all for your suggestions!
Unfortunately, we do not qualify for Healthy NY since the threshold amount is so low. We could have possibly qualified with just our unemployment benefits but we also collect rental income  I am at such a loss....coverage through COBRA will cost us about $850 a month
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| Posted 10/25/09 6:55 PM |
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shopaholic07
LIF Adult
Member since 5/08 1535 total posts
Name:
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Re: Health Insurance for Unemployed?
Posted by Mssissy
Posted by donegal419
Also, i heard that the government passed a bill that reduces the Cobra payment by 60% for people that have lost their jobs due to the economy. Perhaps that would make the premium doable?
It's called The American Recovery & Reinvestment Act of 2009. Ask your employer about it. It was part of Obamas stimulas plan. It's Cobra at a reduced rate for 9 months.
For single I'm paying $166 a month. Not sure what the family cost would be. But it may be worth looking into along with the other options mentioned in this post.
Good luck
Hi - how did you obtain information about the Reinvestment Act? I looked through the materials DH received from his employer but didn't see it mentioned anywhere....
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| Posted 10/25/09 7:15 PM |
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MsSissy
xoxoxo
Member since 3/07 39159 total posts
Name:
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Re: Health Insurance for Unemployed?
Posted by shopaholic07
Hi - how did you obtain information about the Reinvestment Act? I looked through the materials DH received from his employer but didn't see it mentioned anywhere....
I received the information from my HR Rep. I would contact his employer about it.
But from what I understand it ends in Dec. So you may only get a few months out of it, but it will help
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| Posted 10/25/09 7:18 PM |
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shopaholic07
LIF Adult
Member since 5/08 1535 total posts
Name:
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Re: Health Insurance for Unemployed?
Posted by Mssissy
Posted by shopaholic07
Hi - how did you obtain information about the Reinvestment Act? I looked through the materials DH received from his employer but didn't see it mentioned anywhere....
I received the information from my HR Rep. I would contact his employer about it.
But from what I understand it ends in Dec. So you may only get a few months out of it, but it will help
Two months is better than none! Thanks for the info! 
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| Posted 10/25/09 7:31 PM |
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