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As I join millions of unemployed Americans, I am learning about health insurance options during unemployment and sharing with you here. I always had healthcare coverage through either school or work, so when I quit my job recently, that was the biggest concern: health insurance. I was not living paycheck to paycheck so money/income was not the biggest issue. Health insurance and how that would work now was the primary concern.

Job makes us sick and provides health insurance?

It is kind of sad that things are this way. We get a job so we can have health insurance so we can get healthcare when we get sick. But then, what if jobs are making us sick? I know that won’t resonate in the same way with everyone but think… essential workers during the pandemic. Essential workers are getting sick during the pandemic specifically due to their job.

So we get a job to have healthcare coverage (among other reasons, of course, but you get what I mean, I am frustrated) which we need when we have a job. Can I just not have a job for a bit? As in, no, thank you.

This is how I started to feel because for the first time this year I used my health insurance for real. Like, I got actually sick with COVID-like symptoms. Back in March/April, they were not even testing patients (here in Dayton, OH) who were not in the healthcare industry. I self-quarantined, did telehealth appointments, and had to get better on my own at home. It was tough and I did not want to get sick again. It was TOUGH.

Before this, I only ever used health insurance for routine checkups (like Women’s Annual Exam) and had minimal prescriptions, mostly no regular prescriptions at all. But this year, I maxed out my max out-of-pocket (eligible healthcare expenses through copays, coinsurance, or deductibles) and paid bills well over $1000 for getting sick with flu-like symptoms. Mainly, still, just routine checkups where thankfully nothing was wrong but the bills added up.

So, just to clarify some insurance lingo, there is a maximum deductible which first gets met, and then there is a max out-of-pocket number that when met, everything after that the insurance covers. I did not know what these terms meant but now I (sort of) do.

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I should say “suspected COVID” here since it was never confirmed nor denied. I had some sort of flu is all we know.

Even if you are working from home, you might be developing health issues due to your job. I don’t have too much perspective on this because my work made me go in, however, I know your struggles are real, and please feel free to comment/share below.

I bought individual health insurance for the first time!

So… anyway, I quit my job and bought my own health insurance for myself during this period of unemployment. I hope that this empowers me and you to make decisions that are actually good for us. I don’t want us to do jobs out of desperation and need for healthcare coverage. Screw that.

I went on the Internet and signed up to buy personal health insurance after which I was bombarded with phone calls and emails from various agents who wanted to “help me” get said insurance. So, this part sucks, but hopefully, you can skip some of that.

Then, I got a text from this guy called Guy who seemed to be decent compared to everyone else calling me and I texted back to get more information. Guy told me that he might be able to get health insurance for me for pretty cheap because I did not have any prescriptions and was overall healthy.

I started to feel pretty empowered once I began to figure out my health coverage options. And, I am not even saying that this is the best but it is a start.

What’s the catch for buying health insurance during unemployment

So… this is the catch. It helps to be healthy when buying health insurance and what “healthy” means can also be something we have to look into, but if you think you are, then this might be a great option to explore. Even if you think you aren’t, who knows, you might be according to THEM (the insurance company)? So, it might still be good to explore.

Guy sent me this email that I share below.

TLDR: I could buy personal health insurance for $179.44 per month from UnitedHealthcare PPO/US Health Group for pretty good coverage. You can decide for yourself if this kind of coverage would be good for you or not. I decided to go for it. The email also includes other information/definitions that you might find useful so all that is below.

Underwriters for Health Insurance

$179.44 is cheap, so I thought it worthwhile to share all this with you. I did have to get approved through their underwriters and Guy helped me with how to respond to the questions asked by the underwriters.

We did a practice round and that helped a lot. The questions include questions about health history, height, weight, etc. They are trying to gauge the risk of insuring you. They are not your friend. My information is below – don’t judge!

• Age: 29 (turned 30 soon after)
• Height: 5 ft 4 in
• Weight: 140 lb
• Currently, no prescriptions

Apparently, the above was good. I mean… I have been running, but I don’t really diet.

Guy’s email about my health insurance during unemployment

If you want to get in touch directly, go for it. I am only sharing my personal experience and I am not an expert on health insurance!!

More information on what it takes to get good health coverage for cheap

I also heard from another insurance agent who said similar things. His contact is below if you want to get in touch directly. I am just trying to save you some time talking to various insurance agents if you can avoid it.

This other agent’s information:

• Kyle Wright, independent health advisor
• kwrighthealth.com
• 970-744-5566
• Licensed in Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada (home state), North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, and Virginia.

Summary of what this health insurance agent said (don’t quote me!)

1. COBRA is the worst of all options
2. Obamacare is only a good idea if you can’t get accepted anywhere else and or if you can qualify for significant government savings.
3. Watch out for plans that nickel and dime you. For example, plans that have copays, coinsurance, and high deductibles.
4. If you are in good health, there are private plans that save you money, much like good drivers save on auto insurance.

The definition of good health is not you feeling healthy but that you satisfy the underwriters of the insurance plan in question. For example, you might feel healthy, but if you have diabetes, most private underwriters won’t insure you. That is just one example.

On the other hand, if you have high blood pressure, but you don’t smoke, no migraines, no sleep apnea, and your height and weight are acceptable, and it has been controlled by medicine for over 12 months, the underwriters will probably accept you. Many more examples like this.

My takeaways on health insurance during unemployment:

• Health insurance is like car insurance! If you are in good health (see the limited info above on what that means) you might be able to pay LESS for health insurance.
• The underwriters are not your friend, get help on how to respond to them. My guy, Guy, helped me with that and I got approved.
• All this happened over the phone or email or text within a day or two, and I was covered. So, not bad, if you need something fast.
• I am not claiming this is the best option but it is AN OPTION and I am just excited that there is something for me for cheap even during unemployment.
• Let me know your questions in the comments below and I will respond!