It makes sense; you need to have a plan for what to do about health insurance when you quit your job
Quitting a job is scary, especially when you lose your health insurance. Here are some of the options for health insurance when you quit your job to get yourself your own comprehensive medical coverage.
1) Get on your spouse’s insurance plan
If they are willing to pay an extra cost per month (or you are willing to pay the difference for them) you can get on your significant others’ insurance through their work. Waiting til the end of the year so that you can join during open enrollment is ideal, but quitting a job that causes you to lose your coverage is a qualifying life event, so have them touch base with their HR department.
Depending on their employer, you may even be able to do this if you aren’t married.
2) Buy an individual policy
It is possible to find an affordable, individual policy for your health insurance. Start by looking online through the government’s website www.healthcare.gov. You can also browse through agencies and brokerages like . Check out your state government’s health insurance website for recommendation on brokers and agencies.
3) Use COBRA
The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act or COBRA means that employers with 20 or more employees must offer health and dental coverage for up to 18 months after an employee leaves. The price will be high as you are taking on what your employer was paying for your insurance, but you’ll be able to keep your same policy for that time frame. COBRA is especially awesome if you have pre-existing conditions and you fear you may have trouble qualifying to buy an individual policy. You can go to the United States Department of Labor’s website to find out more about COBRA.
4) Get a group plan
Even if you aren’t employed with someone anymore, you still may be eligible for a group plan. If you hire one of more employee and are self-employed, you can apply for a small-business group plan. If it’s just you, check out professional groups that may help you find insurance or even offer it themselves if you’re looking for health insurance when you quit your job, like the Freelancers Union.
Don’t be scared to quit your job just because you are going to lose your benefits. Never Let Benefits Keep You at a job you hate…Using one of the steps above, you can find your own! Oh, and don’t forget, a lot of dental plans have a 6-month waiting period for covering most things beside cleanings!
Do any of you have any other suggestions for finding your own medical coverage and/or how to search for health insurance when you quit your job? Everything within this post are my personal experiences and are not meant to be solid guidelines for your self-employment experience, so please contact an insurance broker before making any huge life decisions.
Ready to get serious about your work from anywhere job search? I whole-heartedly recommend Flexjobs, the site where I found my first freelance writing gig. There are zero scams on their site and they have their own 100% remote team, too!
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