Insurance Options for Those Who've Lost Coverage

There are a number of different plan options, including PPO-style plans; high-deductible health plans compatible with health savings accounts; preventive and hospital plans that combine coverage for preventive care with catastrophic coverage for services like inpatient hospital care and outpatient surgery; and an optional dental PPO plan. Premiums vary for the different types of plans, allowing consumers to choose the plan or product that best fits their needs.

According to the EBSA, HIPAA guarantees access to individual insurance policies and state high-risk pools for eligible individuals if you:

had coverage for at least 18 months, most recently in a group health plan, without a significant break;

lost group coverage, but not because of fraud or non-payment of premiums;

are not eligible for COBRA continuation coverage or have exhausted COBRA benefits;

are not eligible for coverage under another group health plan, Medicare, or Medicaid, or have any other health coverage.

The type of health coverage you are guaranteed may differ from state to state. Check with your state insurance commissioner's office if you are interested in obtaining individual coverage. Some state programs have income limits, while others, such as Connecticut, provide subsidies up to a certain income but also make plans available to individuals above the income threshold.

Coverage for Children

EBSA says that children in families who do not have health coverage due to a temporary reduction in income, for instance due to job loss, may be eligible for the State Children's Health Insurance Program (S-CHIP), a federal/state partnership that helps provide children with health coverage.

States have flexibility in administering S-CHIP programs. They may choose to expand their Medicaid programs, design new child health insurance programs, or create a combination of both. To find out more about the program in your state, call 1-877-543-7669 or visit InsureKidsNow.

Coverage for Retirees

For retirees who are not yet 65, there are individual plans available directly from insurers such as Aetna(AET Quote) who also offer a well-known individual plan to AARP members and their families. Aetna says it focuses on making plans affordable while also providing valuable benefits to as many people as possible.