When you're job searching, you may or may not have any income coming in. Health insurance may be the last of your concerns, but it needs to be at the top of your list of things to do. Keeping affordable health insurance throughout your job search will help you keep your health insurance rates down once you do find employment.

Health insurance companies have a caveat on their health insurance premiums known as a gap in insurance coverage. What this means is that if you aren't covered by insurance for more than 60 days, they don't have to provide you with coverage.

The reason for this is because companies know that when you don't have health insurance, you're likely not going to the doctor and taking care of all of your medical issues. As a result, the moment you do get insurance will mean you're going to play catch up. Insurance companies don't like to spend a lot of money, so they avoid these scenarios whenever and however possible.

There are ways for you to keep affordable health insurance throughout your job search. If you were covered with insurance from your former employer, you're given an option to continue coverage, usually in the form of COBRA insurance. This may be a little more expensive than what you were paying with your employer, but that's because you don't get the benefit of the company plan anymore.

If you're looking to find the most affordable health insurance, consider coming down on your coverage a little bit. This will allow you to still remain covered and lower your monthly premium too.

The amount you can reduce it by will have everything to do with your health insurance company that you use in the interim as well as what you were paying in the past. If you had PPO, dropping to HMO can save you money. If you had HMO, look into a Health Spending Account, also referred to as an HSA.

If time is on your side, you can also shop around for health insurance rates from private providers. This will give you the greatest number of options. Call up three or four companies and get rates for even the most basic of health coverage plans.

Once you do find employment again, you have more options available to you. You can switch to the health insurance plan provided by your employer. You may also choose to stick with the plan you have if it is more affordable, which is entirely possible.

Job searching may be difficult on you financially, but it's important to maintain your health insurance throughout the search.