KEEPING CURENT INSURANCE COVERAGE

1. COBRA and Cal-COBRA - If you had health insurance through your job, and your company is still in business and giving health insurance to its workers, you may be able to pay to keep your insurance through COBRA or Cal-COBRA.  A new program will pay more than half of the cost of your coverage.  Call your employer or the Department of Labor (202) 622-6080, or go to http://www.dol.gov/dol/topic/health-plans/cobra.htm. 

Act quickly!! You only have 60 days to extend your coverage.

For more about COBRA and Cal-COBRA, click here.

For a Q&A on the COBRA Premium Reduction Program, click here.

2. "CONVERSION COVERAGE" If your company went bankrupt or stopped providing health coverage and you cannot get COBRA coverage, you may be eligible for “conversion coverage” through your same health plan.  Call the member services number on your health plan card. 

Act quickly!! You can not be turned away because of your health or a preexisting condition if you apply within 63 days.  After that you can be turned down because of your health.

 

OTHER PRIVATE INSURANCE OPTIONS

If none of these options work for you, you can apply for individual health insurance. Private insurers usually require information about your medical history that could mean a higher premium or you could be denied coverage. 

However, if you have had health insurance for the last 18 months without a gap in coverage of more than 63 days, you may have the right to buy individual insurance without giving medical information (a “HIPAA plan”)..  For more information on your HIPAA rights, call the HMO HelpCenter at 1-888-HMO-2219.

If it has been more than 63 days since you lost coverage, and you can’t get individual insurance because of your health conditions, you may be eligible to buy coverage through a program called MRMIP.  There may be a waiting list.  Call 1-800-289-6574 or go to http://www.mrmib.ca.gov  

 

"NO INSURANCE" OPTIONS

1. THE PUBLIC HEALTH SYSTEM - If you need care right now but do not have health insurance, you can go to a public or nonprofit community health clinic, or seek services through a county health program.  Ask them if they have a sliding scale. If you are having an emergency, you can go to the emergency room. After your care or when you get a bill, ask the hospital for a charity care application.

• To search for local health agencies by zip code, visit www.unemploymentlifeline.com

• To see a list of public hospitals in California, click here: http://www.caph.org/memberdirectory.htm

 

2. MEDI-CAL and MEDICARE- If you have children, are pregnant, are disabled or are 65 or over and have a low income you may be eligible for Medi-Cal. Medi-Cal will also cover your children.  Call your local welfare office or go to http://www.dhcs.ca.gov/services/medi-cal/.  

If your income is too high for Medi-Cal your children may still qualify for Healthy Families.  Call 1-800-880-5305 or go to http://www.healthyfamilies.ca.gov .

If you are pregnant but do not qualify for Medi-Cal, you may be eligible for AIM (Access for Infants and Mothers).  Call 1-800-433-2611or go to http://www.aim.ca.gov   

If you are age 65 or over, receive Social Security Disability Income, or have end-stage renal disease, you may be eligible for Medicare.  Call 1-800-Medicare or go to http://www.medicare.gov/