Repository: The New York Public Library. Photography Collection, Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs.

While politicians debate the state of medical insurance in the United States, millions of families find themselves with their primary breadwinner unemployed and no obvious way to get medical insurance. One day this may change, but for now it’s a real problem for many families. During a time of economic hardship and recession, more and more families face this problem.

The good news is that, for many families, there is medical insurance available right now. There are several possible ways to get medical insurance when you’re unemployed:

1. Look into COBRA. If you have a severance package, or if you are able to collect unemployment insurance payments, you may still have some money coming in. You may be able to participate in COBRA. COBRA is so named because of the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985. This act made it so that people who leave a company, whether they quit, are fired, or are laid off, can purchase group health insurance benefits. Recent changes to medical insurance law now make COBRA more affordable than ever.
2. Check out short-term medical insurance options. If there’s a good chance you’ll be going back to work within the next year, this might be your best option. These kinds of insurance policies are specifically designed with unemployed folks in mind. They’re designed to be within your budget. They may not be the best coverage, and will often have high co-pays, but they will often meet your basic medical insurance needs, at the very least.
3. Look into a public option. While there is no national public option for medical insurance, most states have some form of low-cost or free medical insurance. In some states, the programs scale with your income. If you have no income whatsoever, you may be eligible for medical insurance paid for by the state through its Medicaid program. In other cases, you may be able to purchase a low-cost group plan.
4. Ask about children’s coverage. At the very least, all states provide for medical insurance coverage for young children in low-income families. Talk to your state’s insurance department or Medicaid office to find out if this applies to your children. While you and your spouse may or may not be eligible, at least your kids will have access to health care.

Look into small business groups. Many local small business groups, such as local Chambers of Commerce, will have access to a group medical insurance plan. You may be able to participate in this kind of a plan, as well