With health insurance costs and unemployment rates rising simultaneously, it seems that the perfect storm has hit more and more people in the U.S. However; for someone who is willing to take some initiative there are viable options available. This particularly holds true if the person in question is recently unemployed.

The COBRA Act of 1986

The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1986 or “COBRA” as it is commonly referred to dictates that most employees who were member of an employers health insurance plan be allowed to continue their coverage after the employment has been terminated. Of course, they will have to continue to paying premiums but the amount of those premiums can’t change due to their employment status.

18 to 36 Months of Coverage

In most case, the time frame dictated by the COBRA act is 18 months that they will be allowed to continue with their preexisting health insurance policy. However; in some cases with extenuating circumstances this time frame can increase up to 36 months. The terms of the COPRA act also dictate the the covered employees wife and other immediate family members also be allowed to stay covered by the employers health care plan as well.

Community Groups and Organizations

If you are inelligable to be covered under this act then there are other alternatives. For instance, many community clubs and organizations have group health insurance plans that allow for their members in good standing to join. However; many of these clubs and organizations requirement that you be a member for a certain period of time before you can join their health care plans.