Insurance question

[nogutsnoglory]

I have no clue about any of this. I am starting a new job, and im scared to stop my current insurance. What if I hate the job and leave? What do people do when you leave a job and need insurance but have a pre-existing condition?

 

[My Butt Hurts]

As far as I know, as long as you maintain insurance without dropping it, you can't be denied for a pre-existing condition. We have switched insurance companies 3 times since my diagnosis, and I have had no problems.
I'm not sure where you live, but if you lose your job in the USA you can purchase cobra insurance to carry you over until you get coverage again. (I've never been on it, so don't quote me, but I think that's how it works.) It is very expensive though. $500/month, I have heard.
I hope you end up liking your job. Sometimes my husband hates his, but I tell him how important the insurance is to me. (His insurance is better than the one at my work.)

 

[scoutfinch]

In the U.S., if you leave a job you can continue insurance coverage under COBRA (employers with 20 or more employees are subject to this law), see link below for more information.

http://www.dol.gov/dol/topic/health-plans/cobra.htm

If you do continue coverage on COBRA, you will be required to pay the full insurance premium, which can be very expensive and varies from plan to plan. For example, at my firm the monthly COBRA premium for Single coverage is approximately $550/month (it's approximately $1,700/month for Family coverage). It may be cheaper/more expensive depending on the type of plan you have, where you live, etc.

Also, as you transition jobs, you should check to see if your new employer has a waiting period for benefits. Some employers have a month or sometimes even longer waiting period before new employees become eligible for benefits. You should do some research on pre-existing conditions to ensure your diagnosis is not a factor when you switch insurances.

 

[teeny5]

I have just used COBRA and then transferred insurance once eligible at the new job. You must keep coverage though or you can be denied for a pre-existing condition. I had to suck it up and pay the extra, but way better than not having insurance in the end. Some of the tests and meds can be super expensive.

 

[nogutsnoglory]

Thank you all for feedback. Didn't the republicans destroy cobra?