In Many States You Do Have a Right To Health Insurance (it may cost you though) .

Currently in States like New York, Massachusetts, and California, lawmakers are putting together concerted efforts to provide affordable health insurance to all of their population, and momentum seems to be building towards some type of Universal Health Insurance for the whole country. But what you may not realize is that in just about every state in the country there is already in place Federal and State programs that Guarantee your right to medical coverage - however the problem is there is no regulation regarding the costs of premiums under such programs. Yet for many while it can be costly these options represent their only choice for health insurance. And no matter how much you pay for health insurance, it will still be far less then paying out of pocket for medical expenses, or the risks you would be taking by going without any healthcare insurance at all.

If you have been working and were covered by employee health benefits then the entitlement program you are probably most familiar with is COBRA. (Consolidated Omnibus Reconciliation Act). Under COBRA if you leave a job your former employer must allow you to continue your current medical insurance at your own expense for the next 18 months. However it is often not until an employees are faced with continuing their benefits through COBRA that they realize what a value these benefits really were when being paid by their employers. Paying the full benefit on your own, plus a percentage to participate in the program usually results in significant "sticker shock". Still COBRA is a good option to keep you and your family insured until you can get another job or find a more affordable health insurance alternative such as a temporary health insurance plan

The other Federal Program that gives you a right to medical coverage is The Health Insurance Portability and Affordability Act  (HIPPA). HIPPA stipulates that if you were covered by a Group Health Insurance plan in the last 63 days and lost coverage for any reason other than non-payment of premiums - you cannot be turned down for insurance by another company  - even if you have a serious medical condition. However much like COBRA there is no law stating what the cost of the premium should be - so there is no assurance that you will be able to afford the premium, even though you have a right to purchase the policy. Sort of a "Catch 22" to be sure - and one that current health reformers are looking at very closely - but still for those suffering form serious or chronic illnesses, coverage through HIPPA may be their only option to continue necessary health treatments.

And finally, 30 some odd States have what is called "Assigned Risk Pool" insurance available to those who have been turned down or can otherwise not obtain health insurance. The laws governing who qualifies for such insurance differ from state to state, and once again premiums for "pool insurance" can be rather high - but it again guarantees access to coverage to those who have been "uninsurable" due to a history of medical problems.