The state of Alabama has set into place an Alabams health insurance plan for their high risk residents who have expired insurance coverage through a group plan. The person is eligible for this state plan if they are not eligible for any other group coverage, are below the age of Medicare, and are not eligible for Medicaid. This Alabama health insurance plan offers a traditional Blue Cross and United Healthcare policy, which is a managed plan, but the person must meet their qualifications. There is no waiting period for pre-existing conditions. Another qualification is that health insurance coverage must have been available through a group employer plan. The person can also qualify if they were last covered by COBRA. The person must be HIPPA or AHIP qualified. The person must have been under a group health insurance plan for at least 18 months. The person must have applied for COBRA coverage and used up all of their insurable months available. They must not be able to obtain Medicare, Medicare or another group health plan. In order for the person of qualify they cannot be a member of any other health insurance plan and if they are HIPPA qualified they must apply within 63 days of the last day of their covered health insurance plan.

All employers must offer a COBRA plan to all employees that have left the company. This coverage will cover a time span of about 18 to 29 months, depending on the individual’s circumstances. The downside to COBRA is that while the health insurance plan will continue for that employee for is time span, it is very expensive to maintain a monthly premium. If the person has been laid off, lost their job for some other reason or has retired and has only unemployment, Social Security Disability or Social Security checks to rely on then the chances are good that they will not be able to afford COBRA.

There are numerous health care plans that are affordable through the internet. The person seeking health insurance policies can research these plans according to their need to find one that is suitable for them. The cost of each of these plans will be determined according to what coverage the person decides upon and the cost of shared premiums. The managed care policy tends to be more flexible as far as deductible and out of pocket costs for the person.