• 24
  Sep
  2010

• I Cannot Afford COBRA Payments - What Do I Do?

  
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When people lose their jobs, COBRA can be a really valuable asset to have on your side. Many people appreciate the convenience of this program. However, what you may not realize is that while this program is easy to sign up for and the benefits are attractive, the cost is often not.

You see, the way a COBRA policy works is that upon being terminated from your job, or when leaving voluntarily, you can opt into COBRA coverage. This will allow you to keep the same health insurance program that you had at your prior employer, which is very convenient.

However, this comes with a high cost. Your employer probably covers a pretty large percentage of the premium associated with your policy. So you are used to only paying the remaining amount, which is relatively affordable. But under a COBRA plan, you must now pay for the entire premium, which can cost upwards of one thousand dollars per month for a family. Short term health insurance provides an affordable alternative.

Under a short term health insurance plan, you can buy comparable coverage without such expensive premiums. So you can maintain the high level of coverage you need for your family and yourself, and do so without spending several times more than you paid while at your previous employer. If keeping costs reasonable while having access to great coverage matters to you, look into this smart solution,

• 17
  Sep
  2010

• How Does Short Term Health Insurance Save You Money?

  
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If you do not currently have health insurance, or you are about to not have it because of a professional transition such as a pending layoff or starting a new job, then saving money is likely a huge priority for you. With that in mind, it may be hard for you to rationalize making payments out of your own pocket to buy insurance. However, short term health insurance can actually save you money.

It does so in three ways. First, you can buy it for only as long as you need it. So instead of buying a health insurance plan for a year when you only need something for the few months before your new employer will allow you on their insurance plan, you can purchase a shorter duration of coverage. So you will save money by not paying for two different plans once your new one kicks in.

Second, it is cheaper than other temporary insurance alternatives you will find on the market. For example, when most people are terminated from their jobs or leave voluntarily, their human resources department tells them about COBRA coverage. COBRA allows them to keep the same level of coverage they had before their job transition, however it comes at a much steeper price. Since you will be covering the amount of premium costs that your former employer used to cover, you will now be looking at anywhere from 4-10 times what you normally paid for insurance. Coverage for a family could skyrocket from a few hundred dollars per month to over a thousand!

Finally, short term health insurance saves you money when you actually use it. Without insurance, a simple visit to the doctor will cost you hundreds of dollars. Short term coverage can save you significant amounts on those visits as well as emergency services and additional hospital treatment.

• 10
  Sep
  2010

• How Can I Protect My Family While Waiting for Insurance at a New Job?

  
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Finding a new job can be a great feeling. Whether you have been unemployed and looking for that big break, or you have been dissatisfied at your current job and would like a fresh start with a new employer, a new job offers hope for a better future. At the same time, finding out that your new job offers a waiting period before insurance coverage kicks in can be a very deflating feeling. In these situations, short term health insurance offers a simple solution to your problem.

For a long time, many companies forced new hires to wait through a probationary period before they could become eligible for health insurance coverage. This could involve waiting anywhere from 30-90 days so that the employer could make a decision as to whether or not they would retain your services before making an investment in insuring you. That practice seemed to be on the decline, but with the economic difficulties of the past few years it seems to be on the rise once again.

While it is easy to understand how this makes fiscal sense for employers, it can be very trying for employees. After all, who wants to leave their family uninsured for months at a time? Thankfully, short term health insurance offers an affordable way to maintain a solid level of coverage without breaking the bank.

With short term plans, you can protect your family's basic health and emergency health needs while you wait for acceptance into your new insurance plan. Costs are relatively low, and you only need to buy a plan for the length of time you have to wait for your new policy to kick in. That way, you will not be paying for two sets of coverage at once. If you do find yourself sitting through a waiting period to get insurance at your new employer, check out the rates for short term.

• 03
  Sep
  2010

• With Youth Unemployment Rates Hitting Record Highs, Don’t Ignore Short Term Insurance

  
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While most people were aware that the current economic climate was making it especially difficult for young people to find jobs, a recent report has revealed just how dire the situation is. If you are a young person who is affected by this problem,or you know a young person who is struggling to find full-time employment, you would be wise to explore the benefits of short term health insurance.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics reported last week that the unemployment rate for people between the ages of 16 and 24 reached an amazing 19.1%. This represents a record high for that metric.The Bureau has been tracking that figure since 1946.

If you are without a job and ineligible for an insurance plan provided by your family, then the high cost of medical care could create a real problem for you. Even though you are young and less likely to visit the hospital or doctor as often as an older person, scenarios may still arise which necessitate medical attention.

From serious problems like auto accidents to minor issues like visiting the doctor because of the flu, you can purchase short term health insurance and save money on your medical care needs. The investment in these plans is minimal, yet the benefits are large. Just because you are unemployed does not mean you should not have access to great medical treatment.