Guide to Finding Health Insurance Coverage Michigan Are you uninsured? You are not alone. Millions of Americans are without health insurance. Some lost their insurance when they lost their jobs. Others work hard, but their jobs don’t provide health insurance benefits. Whatever the reason, finding health insurance can be difficult. If you are looking for coverage, this guide can help point the way. The road to finding health insurance depends on your “starting point” (you may have more …
March 2007 • 3 If you are an early retiree who has lost your health coverage . . . . . . the same law that helps workers who lose their jobs because of trade policy may help you. If you are a retiree aged 55 or older, your former employer no longer provides your pension, and your pension benefit is paid by the federal Pension Benefits Guaranty Corporation, you can receive help with 65% of the cost of healthinsurance until you are eligible for Medicare. To learn More about this option, contact the Health Coverage Tax Credit (HCTC) Customer Contact Center: Call toll-free *.866.628.HCTC or check out their Web site at www.irs.gov/pub/irs-utl/hctc_program_kit_07-05.pdf. If you cannot afford health care orinsurance . . . . . . there are programs that provide health insurance coverage to people who cannot afford to buy it on their own. You or your family members may qualify, even if you work. However, these programs have income and asset limits. In Michigan, the main programs are Medicaid and MiChild/Healthy Kids. Generally, you and your family can get coverage if you are uninsured and meet the eligibility requirements. Children can often get coverage—even if their parents don’t qualify—because the income limits are usually higher for children.
