Employer Based Insurance

by Nicholas_peters_ » Sat Sep 24, 2011 05:32 pm

I just want to know if anyone knows if in New York do you have to take your employer's insurance before you can try to look for your own? I called ehealthinsurance and that is what a rep told me. Also where can I find that info that he told me? Does anyone know the exact link?

Thanks

Total Comments: 4

Posted: Sat Sep 24, 2011 09:23 pm Post Subject:

I don't think you are required to accept your employer's coverage, unless it is a "noncontributory" plan -- one paid for entirely by the employer. When employees pay some or all of the cost of insurance, the plan is "contributory" and I doubt you can be forced to accept the insurance.

A standard "Coordination of Benefits" provision will state something like: "When an insured is covered by two or more benefit plans, the plan that covers the insured as an employee shall be the primary coverage for that insured." So if you had both an employer sponsored plan and a personal health plan, your employer's plan would be your primary coverage.

Posted: Sun Sep 25, 2011 03:44 pm Post Subject:

yea i am trying to find where it ny state law that it says that if an employer offers insurance that i have to take and not look for personal insurance..a rep from ehealthinsurance told me that and i would like to know where to find what he said so i can see that that is true..he said if they do not offer insurance then and only then can i try to look for my own outside of my employer.

Posted: Mon Sep 26, 2011 12:23 am Post Subject:

Nicholas . . .
I don't have great familiarity with the NY Insurance Code, but Article 32 contains most of what I think it has to say about Life & Health insurance. I cannot find anything that obligates an employee to enroll in an employer-sponsored plan, except that one section of the Code requires all eligible employees to be included in the class of insureds (non-discrimination). Only if the plan is noncontributory -- the employer pays the full cost and all eligible employees must be covered -- might you be required to enroll. But I don't think anything prevents you from not enrolling.

Talk to your employer's HR or benefits person. They should be able to answer your question. I can't say I'm 100% sure, but I don't think you received a correct answer from ehealthinsurance.com. I could be 100% incorrect.

Posted: Mon Sep 26, 2011 01:22 am Post Subject:

yea i felt that way too. i was like no why wouldn't i have the option of not taking the health insurance i want to take. i will find out tomorrow. thanks.

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