Going without health coverage or losing access to affordable health insurance can be scary. It may feel as though expensive medical bills and debt are just one accident or illness away.
If you find yourself in this situation, one option to get medical coverage could be applying to part-time jobs with health insurance. While health insurance is most often reserved for full-time employees, more employers are extending coverage to their part-time workforce as well.
In fact, 37% of employers report they set a minimum 30 hours per week to receive health insurance, and 25% set the bar at 20 hours per week, according to the International Foundation of Employer Benefit Plans.
While health insurance is becoming an in-demand benefit even for part-time jobs, however, the costs of health insurance are on the rise. Though part-time jobs with health insurance exist, it can still take some legwork to track them down.
If you need a part-time job to help you get health insurance, we’ve got you covered. We tracked down a dozen major employers that extend medical plans to part-time employees.
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1. Starbucks
Part-time employees become eligible for health insurance after clocking 240 work hours over the course of three consecutive months (an average of 20 hours per week). They must keep up this average to maintain eligibility for health insurance. Starbucks’ health coverage offerings include medical, dental, and vision plans.
Starbucks offers other valuable benefits to part-time employees, too. Its “College Achievement Plan” pays for 100% of tuition at Arizona State University’s online bachelor’s degree programs. Starbucks also has a generous 401k program that matches 100% of the first 5% of pay contributed, and fully vests immediately. Last but not least, Starbucks offers competitive paid time off that includes vacation time and sick leave.
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2. Amazon
The online retailer has warehouses and offices around the U.S., and offers health insurance to part-time employees that are scheduled to work 20 or more hours per week. In addition to medical plans, Amazon also extends enrollment in dental and vision insurance plans to part-time workers.
On top of this, Amazon also provides a 401k with a 50% match of up to 4% of the employees’ pay (for a total match worth 2%). Part-time employees can also access flexible spending accounts (FSAs) for health care and dependent care, which allow them to use pretax earnings to cover qualifying expenses.
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3. Walmart
Another place to look for part-time jobs with health insurance is at Walmart. This department store has health care options for both part-time and full-time workers. It does specify that most employees must work an average of 30 hours per week, though some part-time workers can be eligible with as little as 24 hours per week.
Walmart has some other attractive benefits, too, such as education assistance for trainings, degrees, or certificates relevant to retail work. It also offers bonuses for employees based on store performance, granted to both full- and part-time employees.
Lastly, if you’re looking to parlay a part-time gig into full-time work, Walmart could be the place for you. It states it’s switched 175,000 part-time workers to full-time status in 2019 alone.
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4. Lowe’s
Part-time associated can enroll in a preventive health care plan, which covers 100% of wellness visits and up to four primary care per year, as well as some coverage for prescription drugs. In addition to the medical plan, part-time workers can also elect to enroll in a dental or vision plan.
Lowe’s part-time employees become eligible for these plans after continuous employment for 89 days.
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5. Costco
This warehouse retailer offers health coverage to part-time employees for medical care, vision and hearing, dental care, and prescription drugs. On top of this, Costco employees can access plans for disability, life, or long-term care insurance.
Part-time employees are eligible in the second month after they have clocked at least 450 hours. Employees can add spouses, children, and domestic partners to their plans and pay part of these costs through payroll contributions.
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6. Ikea
At Ikea, workers are considered full-time when they work 20 hours or more per week. This gives part-time employees and their dependents access to similar benefits to those working up to 40 hours, including medical, dental, and vision plans.
The Swedish-based company also offers tuition assistance, parent insurance, generous paid time off, and discounts on store items and meals.
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7. UPS
Part-time workers at the United Parcel Service, or UPS, receive medical, dental, vision, hearing, and other coverage through TeamstersCare. They will need to work more than 225 hours in a three-month period to be eligible for these benefits, which is equal to about 19 hours per week.
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8. Delta
Delta employees qualify for health benefits including medical, dental, and vision insurance as long as they are regularly scheduled to work 30 hours or more a week. Eligible employees can also enroll dependents in the plans, such as a legal spouse, domestic partner, or a child.
In addition to health coverage, Delta employees also get travel privileges after being with the company for 30 days. This offers free or reduced-cost travel to any destination Delta flies to for the employee and family members.
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9. Chipotle
At Chipotle, all hourly crew members are eligible for preventive health care benefits — with no minimum weekly hour requirements. Any crew member may also enroll in a vision or dental plan, as well. Plus, Chipotle employees who work more than 30 hours per week for 12 months also have the option to enroll in a PPO plan.
Other benefits can make this job even more worthwhile, such as generous PTO and access to 401(k) plans. Chipotle’s 401(k) match is worth up to 4% of total pay, and employees are eligible for it after a continuous year of employment during which they clocked 1,000 hours. Its tuition assistance plan also offers to reimburse up to $5,250 in qualifying education costs per year for eligible employees.
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10. REI
Outdoor and sports retailer REI offers health care benefits for employees who work an average of 20 hours or more per week over a 12-month period.
REI also offers competitive time off, including a “Yay Day” every six months which is a paid day off to get outdoors. Employees also get generous discounts on gear and experience, and can even get “adventure grants” to reimburse some costs of trying a new outdoor activity.
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11. Suntrust Bank
This bank extends eligibility for medical insurance to part-time workers, starting the first of the month after their first day of employment. In fact, Suntrust Bank has four plans to choose from, with options that include pre-tax savings health savings accounts.
It also makes its dental and vision plans available to employees.
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12. Whole Foods
Health food store Whole Foods has long been a leader in offering stellar benefits for part-time employees. Yet it changed its policy in September 2019, moving its hours threshold to qualify for health insurance from 20 per week to 30, according to Business Insider.
Despite this change, Whole Foods is still a viable option to get health insurance for workers who can commit to 30 hours or more per week. Employees also get a 20% in-store discount when shopping at Whole Foods, with the chance to up this to 30% after six months.
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Should you look for part-time jobs with health insurance?
With the average bronze health insurance premium costing $331 per month, according to Kaiser Family Foundation, health insurance could be out of reach for people who can’t get it through a full-time employer.
Seeking a part-time job to get health insurance can be a smart option for people who can’t find or commit to a full-time job — but don’t want to cover health insurance premiums out of pocket. This could include:
- Freelancers or self-employed workers who are growing a business
- Full-time college students working toward a degree
- Job seekers who are looking to cover the gap in health coverage
- Side hustlers looking for a side job with extra perks
- Parents who want to work fewer hours
- Workers with an illness or health condition
- Early retirees who have quit traditional employment
Finding a part-time job with health insurance means your health care doesn’t depend on full-time employment. This list is a great way to kickstart your search for part-time jobs with health insurance.
Research companies’ benefits to see what they offer and whether they publish information on health coverage for part-time workers. And if you get an interview or a chance to speak with a manager, ask about the company’s health plans and requirements to enroll in them.
This article originally appeared on FinanceBuzz.com and was syndicated by MediaFeed.org.
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