Many laid off workers know firsthand how difficult it can be to meet the expenses of health insurance and prescription drugs.  Workers who have been laid off that had employee sponsored health care are often eligible to continue their coverage under COBRA for a period of 18 months. This option however is often very expensive and individuals either can’t afford to pay the cost for this option or don’t want to have their savings quickly eaten away by the cost of COBRA.

Subsidized COBRA

For workers who were involuntarily terminated between September 1, 2008 and March 31, 2010 the government will subsidize 65% of their premiums under COBRA for fifteen months. This subsidy also applies to healthcare continuation coverage if required by the state. For some, this subsidization allows them to keep their current healthcare coverage for an additional fifteen months at a reasonable cost. Check with your former employer for more details relating to the COBRA Subsidy or visit www.dol.gov/ebsa/cobra.html.

Private Health Insurance

Another alternative option is to purchase private health insurance.  With private health insurance, you are purchasing directly from the insurance provider without the benefits of a group rate. There are several plans on the market that are available and it can be a bit intimidating and confusing.  Depending on your health insurance needs, you can select a varying degree of deductibles and co-pays to make your insurance affordable.  Visit www.ehealthinsurance.com to get a comprehensive comparison of private health insurance plans offered in your area.

Discount Health Plans

Lately there have been many companies popping up offering “discount health plans”. These companies have often misrepresented their services as health insurance. Enrollees are often charged for initial enrollment and monthly fee for access to discounts on medical and dental charges.  The buyer of the plan however, is still required to pay all doctor fees upfront and receives reimbursement later. Proceed with caution when purchasing so called “discount health plans”; many consumers have found that doctors are often listed that are not in the network.

Onsite Pharmacy Clinics

A great alternative to health insurance is the use of onsite pharmacy clinics. These clinics are popping up all over the place in pharmacies, grocery stores, and even a few select Walmart and Target stores. These clinics provide care for simple ailments such as ear and sinus infections, strep throat, colds or pinkeye. In addition, they are offering treatments for minor “sprains and strains”, advanced skin conditions that include removal of warts and skin tags or closing minor wounds.

Not only are these clinics convenient, they are less expensive than the cost of visiting a primary care physician. The costs for those paying out of pocket at retail clinics generally run $55 to $75. Clinics are staffed by nurse practitioners and are open seven days a week, with no appointment needed.

Onsite Pharmacy Clinics are not a substitute for health insurance that maybe required for more serious illnesses or accidents. Many users will opt for private health insurance with a higher deductible for medical emergencies and supplement their primary care needs, including physicals by paying out of pocket at the pharmacy clinic when needed. For more information about these clinics, check with your local retail pharmacy.

Dental Coverage

While health care coverage is the priority of many laid off workers, having a dental plan is as necessity as well. Like the discount health plans, there are many discount dental plans offered. Should you decide to choose a discount dental plan, check with your dental provider to ensure they are participants of the dental plan.

If you live in an area that has a dental school nearby, you should check with the school to inquire about patient programs that are available for those who choose to have supervised dental work done by a graduating dental student. These types of services are normally offered at prices much lower than what you will find from your local community dentist. Treatment is always safe and supervised by a certified dental instructor.

State Health Care Programs

The Foundation for Health Coverage Education is a non-profit agency that provides information on a variety of health care programs offered by your state. This organization helps alleviate the worry of finding health care by making known the many programs that individuals qualify for in their state. These resources are not widely known by many.  FHCE offers user-friendly tools and guides, booklets, pamphlets, toll-free help lines, web tools and presentations that simplify public and private health insurance possibilities. For more information visit: www.coverageforall.org

Don’t risk being without the financial protection of health insurance. Regardless of your employment situation, there are options available to you as a US citizen. Take a moment to research and review the many resources offered in this article; your health is worth the effort.