Employee health insurance hit by recession

Employee health insurance is one of the most important benefits provided by employers. But as layoffs grow, so do the number of people no longer covered by employee benefits. According to a recent report by the Center for American Progress' Action Fund, the number of people without health insurance has reached 4 million. The report claims:

At least half of the 4 million who lost their emplyee benefits coverage remain uninsured. Before the recession started there were an estimated 46 million Americans without health insurance.

A one percentage point rise in the national unemployment rate causes 2.4 million people to lose employer-sponsored health coverage. Of those people, 1 million rely on Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program and 1.1 million end up without health insurance.

In Georgia, there are many health insurance options for people who have been hit by the recession and have lost both their jobs and their employer funded health insurance. Short-term health insurance as well as low-cost health insurance is available. But it is important to read the small print of the health insurance policy as not all benefits are covered, and each insurer will offer different kinds of health insurance.