What to Do When Your Health Insurance Runs Out

Option

4. Buy a Short-Term Plan. As the name indicates, these policies provide coverage for a short time, often six to 12 months. "The benefit is they're inexpensive," says Rob Poli, chief operating officer of Insurance Marketing Center in Rockville.

Short-term policies might be a good alternative to such options as COBRA if you are healthy and willing to gamble that you won't have a problem getting insurance when it ends. (If you get sick and go back to the insurer for another policy, the company could decline to sell you one.)

In addition, you can get these plans quickly. "Usually you just need to answer a couple of questions, and then [the policy] can be turned around in a couple of days," says Nicole Aschbrenner, owner of Insurance Coverage Specialists in Clarksburg. Approval for longer plans can take six or more weeks, she says.

The same resources that provide traditional policies, such as eHealthInsurance Services and licensed agents, can also help you find a short-term one.

Option

5. Buy a Plan Via an Association. If you're a member of a professional association or alumni organization, you could see if it offers good deals on health policies. It's possible, for example, for an association based in another state to offer a policy that costs less than what you'd find where you live. Keep in mind, though, that the lower rate is probably due to the out-of-state plan having fewer benefit requirements than plans in your home state.

The downside? You could get scammed. "An individual has to be exceptionally vigilant when purchasing [a health policy] through an association and make sure that the association and the health plan and the agent selling it are legitimate," says Jessica Waltman of the National Association of Health Underwriters. "There's a huge problem with people setting up sham associations."

For help, call the state insurance department and ask whether complaints have been filed against the plan.

Option

6. Find a Safety Net. If you're experiencing a hardship such as poor health or low income, you might be able to gain coverage through a safety net. These options can vary depending on where you live. For example, some sick Marylanders can buy coverage through the Maryland Health Insurance Plan.

D.C. and Northern Virginia residents have a different option: Those who cannot get coverage from commercial health insurance companies because of illness can access a policy through CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, though it can be expensive.

There also are programs aimed at those with low incomes, as well as those such as Medicare, which could help you if you are 65 or older, or younger than 65 but disabled or have a serious kidney problem.

The bad news is that it can be difficult to find out what help is available for your specific situation. The state insurance guides prepared by Georgetown University's Health Policy Institute are one good resource. Also check with your state's insurance department.

For information on the Maryland Health Insurance Plan: http://www.marylandhealthinsuranceplan.state.md.us.