If your employer offers health coverage, you should check out the different options for you and your family members (dependents). Don’t be afraid to ask questions. It’s important to remember that employers may deny or restrict coverage for a few reasons. But, employers and health insurers can’t deny or restrict coverage because of a pre-existing health condition, like cancer. Also, they cannot limit benefits for a pre-existing condition. Once you are covered by an insurance plan, you cannot be denied coverage for treatment for a pre-existing condition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Employer-funded health plans are intended to benefit groups of people. Group health plans generally cover employees in the same organization, often including their dependents. Some employers pay part of the employee’s health insurance premiums, which are the monthly payments required to continue coverage. Unions and other organizations may also offer group health insurance to their members.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Generally, you can enroll in a health plan for yourself and your dependents when you start a new job. After this, it is often possible to add yourself, as well as your spouse or child, to the employment health insurance policy during the open enrollment period. Enrollment happens once a year and lasts between one and two weeks. If you’re not sure when the enrollment period opens, ask your workplace health insurance administrator. Typically, the person in charge of this is in the benefits administration (benefits) or human resources department.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You can also sign up for coverage even outside of open enrollment if you or your spouse had a significant event (see list below) that caused you or a family member to need health coverage. Check with your health insurance administrator at work about your situation, and ask how you can sign up quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n