There are a lot of people who are concerned about how to pay for the cost of healthcare, and the coronavirus pandemic has put an unprecedented amount of stress on our healthcare system. If you are diagnosed with coronavirus or suffer another injury or illness, you must ensure that you are protected against significant financial expenses.

Health insurance during the pandemic can help you cover the cost of doctors’ visits, emergency medical care, and inpatient hospital stays, depending on your insurance coverage. If you are interested in getting a vaccine to protect yourself and your family against an illness, such as coronavirus, you can find an insurance plan that covers it.

In light of the ongoing pandemic, it’s never been more important to carefully consider how to protect yourself and your loved ones. Here are a few different ways to get health insurance coverage during the pandemic.

Should I get health insurance if I don’t have coronavirus?

Under the Families First and Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) legislation, private insurance companies must cover diagnostic COVID-19 testing for free without cost sharing. This applies even if you haven’t yet met your plan’s annual deductible. In addition, some insurance companies cover medically necessary antibody testing, which tests a person’s blood for proteins that show a past COVID-19 infection.

These rules generally include most major medical insurance, as well as some short-term health plans. As always, check with your specific plan for coverage details

Keep in mind that the time frame that insurance companies will waive cost-sharing varies. Contact your insurance company or read your plan documents for more details.

If you don’t have health insurance, then coronavirus testing and treatment may be costly depending on the type of care you need and the duration. A CNBC report estimates a coronavirus hospitalization can cost between $42,486 to $74,310 for someone without insurance. The 2020 CARES Act provides relief funds to healthcare providers treating uninsured COVID-19 patients. However, hospitals are still free to hold uninsured patients responsible for expensive hospitalization costs. So if you don’t have insurance, you can get stuck with large medical bills if you get COVID-19 and need treatment.

The situation continues to change as medical experts learn more information about the virus and how best to fight it. In the meantime, the reality is that there remains an ongoing risk of contracting COVID-19 and needing medical treatment.

In short, if you don’t have any type of coverage right now, this may be a good time to think through different options to help with possible medical costs and protect yourself financially. For example, having a major medical plan with a maximum out-of-pocket limit can mean the difference between tens of thousands of dollars in hospital bills and having a cap on your costs.

How can I get health insurance if I lost my job due to Coronavirus?

You generally have a few options if you lost job-based health coverage due to COVID-19:

• Enroll in COBRA coverage.
• Enroll in a Marketplace plan with a Special Enrollment Period.
• Get coverage through a spouse or parent (for those under 26).

First, find out if your employer offers COBRA coverage (Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act), which lets you extend job-based health coverage for up to 18 months after your job ends. Typically, employers with at least 20 or more workers are required by law to offer COBRA coverage. While this may be convenient, this is a more expensive option because you’ll pay the full cost of your monthly premium, in addition to an administrative fee. But it’s a good place to start and lets you continue your current health insurance while you look at your other coverage options.

If COBRA isn’t an option, you can still enroll in a new plan. Losing job-based health insurance is considered a qualifying life event and gives you the opportunity to enroll in a more affordable health insurance plan outside of standard open enrollment.

If you’re under 26, you may be able to get insurance through your parents’ health coverage. If you’re married and your spouse has job-based health insurance, find out if you can get added to their plan.

Even if you were laid off from a job where your employer didn’t provide health coverage, you might still be able to get health coverage through a Marketplace plan. Some states are changing enrollment rules during the COVID-19 pandemic, and opening up enrollment for uninsured residents – including those who have lost jobs that didn’t provide health coverage.

Can I apply for Medicaid?

You can apply for Medicaid at any time. Eligibility is based on income and assets, and rules vary depending on the state you live in. Many states have expanded their Medicaid programs and eligibility guidelines in light of the coronavirus pandemic. To find out more and apply, contact your state’s Medicaid department.

Can I enroll in a Marketplace plan right now?

Under normal circumstances, you can only enroll in a Marketplace health plan during Open Enrollment, which happens once a year. Outside of that period, you need a qualifying life event – a special situation that makes you eligible to enroll, such as getting married, moving, or losing health coverage.

However, many states are creating new Special Enrollment Periods during the coronavirus pandemic to let residents without insurance enroll. According to Healthcare.gov, if you had a qualifying life event more than 60 days ago and were prevented from signing up for a new health plan due to a COVID-19 emergency, you may qualify for a Special Enrollment Period. So, for example, if you were hospitalized due to COVID-19 and unable to enroll during the 2020 Open Enrollment Period, you may be able to ask for an extension to sign up for 2021 health coverage. If you’re not sure whether you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period, an eHealth licensed insurance agent can discuss your situation with you and figure out what your options are.

How else can I get health insurance during the Coronavirus pandemic?

If you don’t qualify for Medicaid or a Marketplace plan but want some type of coverage, you might consider a short-term health insurance plan in the meantime.

A couple of important things to keep in mind with short-term insurance:

• Premiums tend to be more affordable. 
• Many plans offer flexible terms.
• Short-term plans aren’t major medical plans and aren’t required to cover essential health benefits.

Short-term insurance plans can help with some medical costs if you want coverage but aren’t able to afford major medical insurance or don’t have a qualifying life event. They’re meant to fill gaps in coverage till you’re able to get a more comprehensive health plan. Plans may deny applicants coverage based on pre-existing conditions, may be limited by state restrictions, and most have a cap on covered costs.

How can I get help signing up for coverage during the coronavirus pandemic?

We know that sifting through all of your options can be overwhelming. As a trusted online broker, eHealth offers a wide selection of health coverage choices to fit different needs and budgets. If you’d like personalized help, give us a call and a licensed insurance agent can walk you through options that may work best for you. You can also compare individual and family health insurance plans that are available in your area with our easy-to-use comparison tool.

How can I make sure I still have health insurance after the pandemic ends?

If you have a typical health insurance plan, you should still have coverage even after that pandemic ends; however, if you have one of many short-term plans that have been specifically designed for coronavirus coverage, then you need to invest in comprehensive coverage from one of the many health insurance providers to ensure that you and your family are adequately protected.

First, you need to reach out to your current health insurance provider to get the details of your current plan. Even if you have had comprehensive health insurance during the pandemic, you need to get a firm expiration date on your current health insurance policy. That way, you understand exactly the type and length of coverage you have.

If your insurance policy is going to expire in the near future, you need to see what you have to do to renew coverage. Your health insurance provider might ask for documentation, or you might need to switch to a more comprehensive plan. Even though it is helpful to have health insurance during the pandemic, you also need a comprehensive policy that will cover other injuries and illnesses. You should also invest in a policy that will provide you with coverage for preventive care.

If you are looking for the best health insurance policy for yourself and your family, you should check out the marketplace. The marketplace makes it easy for you to compare rates, coverage, and eligibility option. For example, you might need a policy that gives you not only medical care but also dental and vision coverage. Or, you might be interested in a policy that has a low deductible and exceptional chronic medical coverage. You can also find a plan just like that on the marketplace.

Finally, if you want to apply for Medicaid, you may want to reach out to an expert who can help you assess your eligibility requirements. The exact qualifications for Medicaid can vary depending on your location, financial status, and medical history.

The right insurance plan for one person is not necessarily the right insurance plan for someone else. You need to compare the features and benefits of each individual plan before you decide which policy is right for yourself and your family. You need to think about your medical history, your potential medical needs, the coverage limits associated with the policy, potential coinsurance expenses, and your out-of-pocket maximum. An experienced insurance expert can help you find the right plan to meet your needs.

Does insurance cover COVID-19 vaccines?

If you want to protect yourself and your family against COVID-19, vaccines are one of the most powerful tools available. Multiple vaccines are available, including the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, the Pfizer vaccine, and the Moderna vaccine. The good news is that the overwhelming majority of insurance plans will cover the COVID-19 vaccine.

According to rules and regulations published by the federal government, only the federal government itself and insurance companies can be billed for any expenses related to the coronavirus vaccines. Patients are not allowed to be billed for expenses related to the COVID vaccine. No matter how old you are, how many chronic conditions you have, and how many shots you require, nobody should ever send you a bill for the coronavirus vaccine. Regardless of whether you have Medicare, Medicaid, or a private insurance policy, you should not receive a bill related to the COVID-19 vaccine.

As the landscape of the pandemic changes, rules and regulations related to the COVID vaccine may also change. One of the best ways to keep medical expenses down is to limit the chances of someone getting sick. That is why the vast majority of health insurance plans provide comprehensive coverage for vaccinations, including the COVID-19 vaccine. 

Right now, the federal government does not allow patients to be billed for expenses related to the coronavirus vaccine, but it is possible that it might change in the future. That is why you need to pay close attention to your health insurance pandemic policy and understand what happens when it expires or if you need to renew it. 

Our mission at eHealth is to support the health and well-being of individuals and small businesses. For additional insurance advice, health tips, and information on coverage, please visit eHealth.com.

For information and guidelines specific to the coronavirus outbreak, visit cdc.gov.

This article is for general information and should not be relied on as medical advice. Check with a medical professional for medical advice. Check with your particular insurance company to see what is covered by your particular insurance plan.