Health Insurance I was just laid off from my job and I have diabetes I need health insurance for me and my family what can I do? By Insure.com | Posted on October 8, 2012 Why you should trust Insure.com Quality Verified At Insure.com, we are committed to providing honest and reliable information so that you can make the best financial decisions for you and your family. All of our content is written and reviewed by industry professionals and insurance experts. We maintain strict editorial independence from insurance companies to maintain editorial integrity, so our recommendations are unbiased and are based on a comprehensive list of criteria. Look into buying COBRA right away. The federal COBRA law allows you to continue to buy the same health plan you’ve had through your employer for 18 more months. You’ll have to pay the full premium, plus possibly an administrative fee of up to 2 percent. If your employer has been paying part of the premiums, you could be in for some sticker shock. Here’s more important information on your COBRA rights. Because of your diabetes, you probably won’t have much success trying to buy an individual health plan on your own. If COBRA doesn’t pan out, look into buying a Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan (PCIP). These plans, administered by the federal government, guarantee you coverage even if you have medical problems. Here’s the official PCIP website. Related Articles How to add a spouse to your health insurance plan By Huma Naeem Does my deductible start over if I change jobs? By Shivani Gite When does health insurance start at a new job? By Shivani Gite Can I drop my spouse from my health insurance at any time? By Nupur Gambhir When does health insurance expire after leaving your job? By Casey Bond If both spouses have health insurance which is primary? By Prachi Singh