Your spouse is in a difficult situation. I am running into this dilemma more and more. Sometimes it is due to retirement, sometimes being laid off, sometimes COBRA ending, sometimes because one spouse ages into Medicare. The reason doesn’t really matter, but the result is the same; A spouse or individual without insurance.

At times when employment ends there is COBRA, and for many right now that COBRA is at a reduced cost. COBRA only lasts for 18 to 36 months depending on the situation. COBRA may be good coverage but for many it means you don’t have food on the table or other luxuries. Once the COBRA ends, you are again in that situation.

Another alternative available is HealthyNY coverage if your spouse has worked any length of time in the past 12 months. This is health care coverage that is subsidized by New York State. Healthy NY is available to individuals, couples and families. You must meet eligibility guidelines; a one person household must have income less than $2,257, a two person household must have income less than $3036 per month to qualify in 2009. The income is dependent on the number in your household, so you could contact them if there are more than two in your household. HealthyNY coverage is offered by three companies, Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Independent Health and Univera. HealthyNY is Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) type coverage, which means you must see participating providers in order to be covered. The premiums are different based on how many need coverage, and the type of coverage you want (with or without drug coverage, or high deductible). HealthyNY can be very effective and reasonably priced insurance, if you meet the income criteria.

If you get insurance as an individual from an insurance company you can get it, but you will probably pay over $1,000 monthly for this insurance. For some this is necessary, and those with serious medical conditions may have to use this option. There are also some policies that would cover just a hospitalization, which for some is enough protection. You know your health care needs better than anyone.

I have contacted some insurance companies I found on the internet. They were very willing to talk with me, and tell me about these great policies, but when they found I lived in New York State, they were unable to sell me a policy. At first I was very frustrated, but then felt that New York State was looking out for us and protecting us from insurance fraud.

A resource for you is the Get Covered Help Line offered by Chautauqua County Health Network (CCHN). Their phone number is 1-888-753-7315. The staff there have a lot of experience in working with individuals in your situation. They can talk to you about prescription options, plan alternatives and maybe some options I haven’t mentioned here.

I wish you luck and hope that someday soon the Insurance industry will wake up to this newly large underserved population. I believe this population is going to explode as more and more people fall into this situation. If any of you out there know of anything available I have not mentioned, please let me know. I can pass that information along to others.