The U.S. economy will feel the effects of the coronavirus for the next several months and beyond, with many individuals already feeling the sting in their own wallets. If you are one of 47 million Americans who are expected to lose their jobs—or you have already lost it—you’re likely worried about losing your health insurance, too. There are still some options, however, for securing insurance to cover your family’s healthcare needs, and a health insurance broker can help you explore them.

Health insurance plans each have their own rules, benefits and drawbacks. These can be tricky enough to work out when you're buying health insurance for just yourself, but when you're looking for a plan to provide employee benefits, a new set of questions and concerns arises. Group health insurance plans are one of the most popular solutions for employers and employees alike for many good reasons. However, it's best to understand what they entail before you sign up for one—they differ from individual plans in a number of ways.

​Many things tax the grit of a business owner during normal operations. However, the COVID-19 outbreak and resulting forced business changes by cities and states are like nothing we've experienced as a country in modern times. The rules are changing, and, in addition, you still have to abide by the existing laws that were enacted for employee benefits. All this while keeping your customer's trust and confidence in your ability to keep them safe from the virus so that they will buy your products or services in a completely new business model.

The detrimental impacts of COVID-19 affect us all, whether you have contracted the illness or not. In just two months, the economic fallout is already shaking the nation with many businesses closing and uncertain as to whether they will be unable to reopen once the pandemic subsides. Even those businesses that are not closing their doors are laying off or reducing the hours for large sectors of their employees. The unemployment and underemployment rates have taken a sharp upward turn, and there is no sign of the trend reversing.​

If you are approaching 65 and thinking about your healthcare options, you may be planning to take advantage of Medicare. This government program provides older Americans with health coverage that they may have previously gotten through private insurance. Many people worry about the state of Medicare and whether they can rely on it. Understanding how it is funded can help clear up some of these worries.