Losing your job is stressful, but understanding your benefits and what’s available to you can help alleviate some of that stress. Learn what happens to your health and dental insurance after losing your job and what your options are:
What happens to my health insurance if I lose my job?
If you lose your job for any reason, your benefits should continue through the end of that month. While it is still active, follow up with your physician or dentist if you are following an active treatment plan for a medical or oral health condition. Once the month is over, you will lose coverage.
What are my options after coverage has expired?
Once your dental and health insurance is expired through your employer, you have a few primary options to avoid a lapse in coverage:
Option 1: Buy insurance through the Marketplace
Either through your state sponsored plan, or the federal program, you can purchase coverage for yourself and your family the day after your employer coverage expires. Whether you quit, were laid off, or fired, you qualify for the Special Enrollment Period, or the period outside of the insurance marketplace’s set enrollment dates.
You can get dental insurance through the Marketplace if you choose a plan that includes health and dental, or through a stand-alone dental plan.
Option 2: Sign up for COBRA coverage
COBRA is a federal program that allows you to continue coverage for health and dental benefits after your employer sponsored plan ends. You will be responsible for the entire premium.
Option 3: Get on your spouse’s plan
If your spouse works for a company that offers health or dental insurance, or if they have their own insurance plan, they can add you. A spouse’s job loss is a qualifying life event, so you won’t have to wait until open enrollment to be added.
Coverage for children
A human resource tip from Sue Shulfer, Human Resources leader at Delta Dental of Wisconsin, “Don’t forget about available programs for your kids such as the Children’s Health Insurance Program, or CHIP, that provides no-cost or low-cost health coverage for eligible children in Wisconsin. These program provide health coverage for children so that they can get routine check-ups, immunizations, and dental care to keep them healthy.”
Can I go without dental insurance?
While federal law mandates carrying health insurance coverage currently, carrying dental insurance for you and your kids is not mandatory. In other words, you will not sustain a penalty for not having dental coverage.
It’s always best to consult your human resource department with any questions you have regarding your coverage options, and how long your coverage will continue after your employment has ended. And most importantly, it is good to know you still have options to continue both your health and dental insurance coverage.
For more information on individual dental plans, click here.
