Can I get Obamacare if I am on unemployment?
I have been unemployed for about two months now, but am a full-time student. I am attending college through a state-funded retraining program (WIA). Am I still eligible for Obamacare coverage?
Answer
Being unemployed and receiving unemployment income does not make you ineligible for getting coverage through ObamaCare. In fact, you may be eligible free or very low-cost health insurance. The only way to find out is to register on your state's Health Insurance Market or the Federal Insurance Exchange, Healthcare.gov.
Keep in mind that, unless you qualify for a special enrollment period, you will not be able to get started with a plan until the next open enrollment period. On the other hand, sign-ups for Medicaid are open all year.
Also, you will want to consult a financial advisor in your WIA program to find out what scholarships and grants do or do not count towards income when registering with your marketplace. You may have to include some or all of your unemployment income and / or your government-funded scholarships and grants.