Back To ArticlesIf you don’t get health insurance through your employer, you may qualify for one of the following health insurance programs:
You are eligible for Medicaid if you:
- Are under 65 years old
- Receive less than $17,774 as your annual income for a household of 1, and so on; check your income eligibility here
- Are a permanent resident of the United States for at least 5 years
You can get on Medicaid at any time — there is no deadline; you are eligible for financial assistance if you:
- Can’t be offered coverage from your employer
- Can’t be enrolled in Medicare or Medicaid
You are eligible for Pennie — also known as Obamacare or Marketplace — if you:
- Don’t have affordable job-based coverage. You may also qualify for financial assistance for your plan – 9 out of 10 people do. Check your income eligibility here.
The open enrollment period for marketplace insurance begins in November 1st, and will end January 15th. If you want your health insurance plan to go into effect on January 1st, you must enroll by December 15th.
You are eligible for MAWD (Medical Assistance for Workers with disabilities) if you:
- Are currently employed
- Are between the ages of 16-64
- Have a special health need such as diabetes, high blood pressure, anxiety, depression, or something else
- Receive less than $7,260 as your monthly income
- Have no more than $10,000 in resources or assets
Your child is eligible for CHIP (Children’s Health Insurance Program) if they are:
- Under the age of 19
- A US citizen or qualified migrant (see qualifications here)
- Not eligible for Medicaid
You are eligible for Medicare if you are:
- 65 years of age or older
- A US citizen or permanent resident who has lived in the US for at least 5 years
Those under 65 years of age may also be eligible for Medicare. If you have a permanent disability and have received disability benefits from Social Security or the Railroad Retirement Board for at least 2 years, you may be eligible for Medicare. If you’ve been diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s disease (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS), or if you have permanent kidney failure that requires dialysis or a kidney transplant, you may also be eligible for Medicare.
Find out how to apply for coverage here.