HEALTH INSURANCE

What should be done if you lose your health insurance

An average day in the hospital costs about $ 2000. The classic cholesterol lowering costs about $ 100 per month. It is not surprising that our health insurance higher. But losing your health insurance is a real possibility. Many people who lose insurance for a dismissal because of supply, decrease their employers for full health benefits or early retirement. Others are not insured, if they are not to pay insurance premiums that their employers, they are to be paid or because of divorce or the death of a spouse. If you lose your health insurance and you do not qualify for Medicaid or not yet 65 years of age, benefit from Medicare, there are ways for insurance or temporary medical care and regulatory services. COBRA. The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA), employers of employees of a group health insurance plan to continue to buy, that the coverage of up to 18 months, at his own expense, if they were licensees, who have left voluntarily or reduced their hours at the point where they have no more right to benefits. You can buy the insurance for everyone in your family, which was covered before the insurance lost. Members of the family of a victim, one of the workers, death may also purchase coverage under COBRA. Important: COBRA applies only to businesses of 20 or more employees. It does not apply when you use your former employer to complete the transaction. And it can be costly. One characteristic of employers sponsored health insurance plan for the family, including the hospital, the doctor, dentist, prescription drugs and coverage, the costs can be up to $ 12000 per year. Hospital staff had no insurance coverage. In both federal and state, we can not turn our backs to the ER, if you had no insurance. And if you have more emergency care, you can not deny access to the hospital. Last year, hospitals more than $ 25 billion and care for people who were unable to pay their bills, regardless of whether they are insured or not. This was compounded by the fact that many hospitals free or low-cost clinics, which can be used for chronic diseases, such as monitor diabetes, asthma and cardiovascular disease. Free or low-cost prescription drugs. More than 475 public and private assistance programs, including those offered by more than 150 other companies, free or low-cost medicines prescribed to patients qualified non-prescribed medicines to preserve it. To learn about these programs - and who qualify for you - in the Partnership for Prescription Assistance (888-477-2669). Negotiate with your doctor. Your health insurance fund to lose does not necessarily mean you can not see doctors, you always have to be used. Most work, a reduction in fees or extended payment terms for you and your family. But it's up to you to ask questions.