Am I Eligible For Other Types of Plans?
Just like there is more than one type of car, there is more than one type of health insurance plan. If you’re a student or younger than age 26, you are 65 or older, meet certain income requirements, have recently lost your job or are between jobs, you may be eligible for one of the following types of health plans:
Student health plans
Many colleges and universities now offer a group plan for students in addition to its faculty and staff members. Please contact your school directly if you are interested in a student health plan.
Health care coverage under your parent’s plan
If you’re a young adult under age 26, you may be eligible for health care coverage under your parent’s plan. If you’re a student who lives out of the area while at school, you should check to see if the plan covers nearby doctors and hospitals. Once you turn 26, you will need to purchase your own health insurance plan, which you can do through Independence Blue Cross.
Medicare
Medicare is a federally managed program that provides health care coverage for people age 65 and older, people with end stage renal disease, and people with certain disabilities. Learn more about Medicare.
Low-income health plans
Some insurers offer free or low-cost insurance for uninsured children and low-cost coverage for uninsured adults. Learn more about low-income plans.
COBRA
If you recently lost your job, health care coverage through COBRA (Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act) may be an option for you. COBRA allows you to temporarily maintain the same health benefits you had with your employer’s plan. It’s available to most employees whose employer coverage has been terminated.
If your employer has 20 or more employees, visit www.dol.gov and search for “COBRA.” If your employer has fewer than 20 employees, visit www.pa.gov and search for “Mini-COBRA.”