Are you currently without health insurance? Worse yet, are you sick and in need of medical care? If you find yourself in this unenviable position, you may feel that you are out luck.
While it may be difficult to find health insurance when you have a pre-existing condition, it is not impossible. There are multiple opportunities to consider, one of which may help you get the coverage you need.
Below are several of the best ways to secure health insurance, even if you are sick at the present time:
1. Search For a Job That Offers Group Health Insurance
Hands down, this is one of the easiest ways to secure affordable coverage regardless of your health. With unemployment high, this is not as simple as it sounds. That being said, this is something you should definitely consider.
2. Can You Get Added to Your Spouse’s Health Plan?
Even if you have to pay to do so, this may be something to consider. Believe it or not, many people overlook this option. They get so caught up in the search process that they forget how easy this can be. If you are lucky, you may learn that you can be added to the plan at a very low cost (some companies even offer this for free).
3. Wait Until You Turn Age 65
This is not feasible for everybody, especially those who are many years away from their 65th birthday. But if you are close, you may want to stick it out for the time being. Once you reach this magic number, you are eligible for Medicare. With Medicare, you never have to worry about pre-existing conditions holding you back from receiving coverage.
4. Do You Have an Extremely Low Income?
Contrary to popular belief, you are not required to be a child to obtain coverage through your State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). If you meet the requirements, including low income, you may be eligible to receive coverage – even if you are not a child. Most of the time, you have to be a parent of an eligible child to qualify.
5. Scour the Private Market
Many people overlook the fact that they can buy individual health insurance. This has nothing to do with the company that you work for. Instead, you are going out on your own and finding coverage.
The problem with this is that most plans have a pre-existing condition. Whether or not you are offered coverage at an affordable rate depends on the type of condition you have as well as your overall history.
Remember, even if you cannot receive coverage for your illness you may be able to find a plan that at least helps pay for medical visits. Some health insurance companies will sell you coverage that excludes your condition altogether. In this situation, at least you are covered for anything else that effects your health.
Don’t give up on buying a health insurance policy just because you are facing an illness. Instead, consider the five options above for obtaining coverage.