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Medicare and Medicaid
Medicare is not just government-supplied medical insurance for those over age 65. If you have been entitled to Social Security Disability (SSDl) benefits for the past two years, you are eligible for Medicare.
Although Medicare Parts A and B are the most well known of the Medicare plans, much fuller (and more expensive) coverage may be provided by purchasing Medicare Supplemental Insurance, often called MediGap insurance. Ten versions of MediGap insurance are available, identified as A through J, with J providing the highest coverage and costing the most.
Medicaid is a health payment program for the financially needy that is run jointly by the federal government and each state government. As such, its rules and benefits vary greatly, depending on where you live. Examples of those who may qualify are recipients of Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC), those receiving the Social Security's Administration's Supplemental Security Income (SS1) , or certain nursing home patients.

For more information on either Medicare or Medicaid, see J. Robert Treanors Mercer Guide to Social Security and Medicare, which is published yearly and is readily accessible in libraries and bookstores.

Unemployment insurance
Always apply for unemployment insurance if you lose your job, are laid off, or have your hours substantially reduced. Never assume that you're not eligible. Apply even if you have a suit pending for wrongful discharge.
Unemployment law and the granting and calculation of benefits are very complex and vary from state to state. In order to find information that's appropriate for your circumstances, you'll need to research the laws for your state, either on your own or with an attorney who specializes in these cases.