Would I be able to go without health insurance just for a month?

If you absolutely have to, your family can probably go without health insurance for one month, but it is a dangerous risk to take. Even if the entire family is in perfect today, some freak accident could require immediate medical attention tomorrow. Instead of going without insurance while you are waiting for other coverage to go into effect, it might be a better idea to pick some temporary medical insurance to protect you during the interim.

If you are leaving an employer who sponsored health insurance and are waiting for your new coverage to begin, COBRA may be the best course of action. Under COBRA law, you are entitled to keep your health insurance for up to 18 months after your employment ends. You are responsible for paying the full premiums, including any portion previously paid by your employer, as well as a one-time administrative fee to get COBRA going. That will provide you with plenty of time to find new coverage or allow the coverage you are waiting on to go into effect.

Another option is to pick up a temporary health insurance policy to cover you and your family for the interim period. Temporary health insurance is available through websites like this one, or many major groups and organizations, including the AARP, AAA, and Sam's Club. Temporary health insurance is available for period from 1 month to 6 months, and would be an excellent way to maintain coverage while changing your primary insurer. Comparatively speaking, temporary health insurance could be less expensive than going with COBRA, but you would lose your accustomed network care providers.

Even if you go without health insurance for a month, you can still get emergency medical treatment at any emergency room. The cost of services will be billed to you directly, but hospitals with emergency care are not allowed, by law, to turn away patients who require emergency care. You may not receive treatment for routine needs or continue ongoing treatment, but you will have access to medical care in an emergency. This is not the optimum method to take, as it could end up costing you a great deal of money and could mean going without some types of medical care for a short period of time.