Affordable health insurance is something that all Americans need in order to be safe no matter what circumstances life may send their way. While many families choose to have a coverage options separate from employer plans in order to bolster or entirely replace employer-sponsored health care, just as many rely on their workplace for long term plans and to provide reasonable coverage which can be used for any family member at any time. Unfortunately, an uncertain economic climate and the recent downsizing that took place in many industries has left a wide variety of workers without a job and without affordable health insurance. While many are able to quickly find new work, they wonder how to keep their health insurance intact during the time they are between jobs.

There are several options that are open to workers who find themselves without an employer in order to keep their health coverage current. The first is to find some form of individual insurance that can fill the gap until a new workplace can be found - many online companies now offer basic health plans that do just that. The benefits of such plans is that they can be cost-effective, but in many cases they will not offer the same kind of coverage as an employee plan or will not provide the same kind of access to families of an insured. Nonetheless, keeping health care coverage current can help keep rates low; stopping coverage and then starting again typically leads to higher premiums.

It is also possible to keep insurance continuous under Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA). This legislation allows a worker to keep the same level of health care coverage they had at a job, even if they are laid off or the company goes under. Employees will be responsible for the full cost of coverage rather than simply the portion they paid to an employer, but for short-term moves and to keep the same level of service intact, COBRA can be an effective choice.

Keeping coverage current not only allows workers and their families to still receive care when they need it at a reasonable cost but can help lower the amount of time they must wait at a new job for their benefits to kick in; if a low health risk can be shown many employers are willing to shorten or waive waiting periods. Long term plans and affordable health insurance are the benefits of employer-sponsored care, and it is important that workers do everything they can to hold on to such plans, even if they are laid off or searching for a new job. Fortunately, a number of ways exist to do just that.