 TITLE: How to Get Health Insurance When You’re Unemployed CONTENT: Investigate Marketplace Health Insurance\n----------------------------------------\nHealth insurance plans that meet Affordable Care Act (ACA) requirements are sold through the Health Insurance Marketplace at HealthCare.gov; some states have their own marketplaces. It's worth investigating Marketplace coverage before making any insurance decisions, because you may qualify for tax credits that will pay part or even all of your premiums.\nAll Marketplace plans must cover preexisting conditions and 10 essential health benefits, including prescription drugs, maternity care and mental health care. Plans come in four \"metal\" levels: Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum. Bronze plans have the lowest premiums, but they cover only about 60% of your health care costs and have high deductibles, so you'll pay more out of pocket if you need care. Platinum plans have high premiums but low deductibles and cover about 90% of your health care costs. Silver and Gold plans fall somewhere in the middle. In addition to tax credits, you might also qualify for \"cost-sharing reductions\" that lower your out-of-pocket costs for deductibles, copayments and coinsurance; if so, you must buy a Silver plan to take advantage of these reductions.\nNormally, you can only purchase Marketplace plans during open enrollment. However, when you lose job-based health insurance, you qualify for a Special Enrollment period and have 60 days to enroll in a Marketplace health plan, regardless of the time of year.\nIf you've elected COBRA, however, you qualify for Special Enrollment in a marketplace plan only if your COBRA period is ending or your employer stops contributing to your COBRA premiums. Otherwise, you'll have to wait until the Marketplace open enrollment period to drop COBRA coverage and sign up for a Marketplace plan.\nYou can \"window shop\" on the Marketplace anonymously before applying for a plan. Just visit HealthCare.gov, put in your ZIP code, and estimate your family income for the year in which you want coverage. You'll be shown a variety of available plans from private insurance companies, including estimated prices and subsidies you may qualify for.\nOnce you see a plan you like, apply for coverage through the Marketplace. You can do this yourself or get help by phone or in person from a trained assister. You can also use a local insurance broker who sells Marketplace plans. This can be a good idea because unlike other assisters, brokers can legally recommend specific plans and suggest ways you can maximize savings and subsidies while getting the best coverage.\nOnce approved, you'll make premium payments directly to your insurance company. Keep in mind that Marketplace coverage doesn't start when your premiums start; make sure you know when your coverage begins. END