new job/health insurance/pregnancy...

xtxrn, ASN, RN · Jul 25, 2011

All of the places I worked at had different lengths of time before insurance takes effect. I'm not sure about pregnancy being pre-existing, or if the Obamacare ban on pre-existing conditions has kicked in yet....you could ask the potential employer what insurance they use, and look it up online.

CT Pixie, BSN, RN · Jul 25, 2011

Pregnancy is no longer considered a "pre existing" condition. If the new insurance covers maternity then they must pay against claims that incur from the date the policy is active.

http://www.dol.gov/ebsa/faqs/faq_consumer_hipaa.html

All of the places I have worked had a waiting period before you could enroll in the health insurance offered. The time frame varies but I've noticed its a 3 month wait.

If you become pregnant prior to being on the new insurance and you would have a "gap" between coverage dates, there might be some sort of help for coverage through a State or Federal program.

When i became pregnant with my first daughter (1992) I was working but was not on the health policy at that point (I had been working part time, but always picked up hours so that I ended up working full time every week..but because I was technically a part time employee I could not get the insurance) I finally ended up having my status go from part time to full time, however in those years pregnancy WAS a pre-existing condition (and I believe the policy stated pregnacy wouldn't be covered for X amount of months from when the policy started) and they would not cover any charges related to the pregnacy, L&D, or the newborn charges. I was encouraged by several family members and friends to seek out some sort of help, d/t unforseen things that could happen that could reek financial havock on me if I did not have insurance. I was figuring that I could pay my and my baby's charges without the insurance. I am so glad everyone made me rethink that. My daughter was born 2 month premature and the bills were staggering. I did end up going onto what was called "Healthy Start" that covered pregnant woman and the baby. Had I not had that coverage I'd be one sunk ship with NO way to repay the tens of thousands that the pregnancy and her birth and NICU stay caused.

Maybe your State has something like that? Personally, I would wait that few extra months until I was on the new policy over getting pregnant prior to starting the new job and going without the insurance for the waiting period.

JustBeachyNurse, LPN · Jul 25, 2011

The only jobs I have ever held that did NOT have a 90 day waiting period for health benefits were both in the pharmaceutical industry. One was a contract research organization and the other was a contract drug development and manufacturing company (basically both pharm research). In my state the pre-existing clause (for any condition) could not be enforced if you had "credible" coverage within x days prior to the new policy taking effect (when you leave a company and don't elect cobra the employer/insurance company sends you a certificate of credible coverage that shows you were "insurable" until the end date).

As far as the state insurance plans for pregnant women and their unborn child, many have a 90 day uninsured clause as a requirement for eligibility (which can be waived in certain circumstances such as a lay off, reduction in force) and there are specific income guidelines. (Your household income cannot be more than a certain percentage over the federal poverty level for your area.)

But while the pregnancy won't be considered a pre-existing condition, you would still be bound by your new employers waiting period for insurance coverage (usually 90 days). You and your husband will need to weigh all options and make a decision when the better time to start a family--

One other thing to think about, unless the physician practice is very large they may not offer full medical benefits to employees, if at all. In my area the only physician practices that offer full benefits are affiliated with one of the local healthcare/hospital systems and use the larger buying power to secure affordable benefits. Some of the stand alone practices only hire MA's and pay a bit above minimum wage.

adpiRN · Jul 25, 2011

So what do most nurses do if they're switching jobs and have to wait 90 days for health insurance?

Pay for COBRA or just go without health insurance for 3 months?

This practice does seem a little unusual because they do hire a lot of RNs and I believe they do supply insurance, though not sure yet what it is and if I'd be eligible I were part-time, which is my first choice... They said we'd discuss it when I come in to talk to them in Sept.

Changing jobs is complicated.... Sigh...

RunnerRN2015, ASN, RN · Jul 25, 2011

I couldn't imagine having to wait 30-60-90 days for insurance coverage! My husband carries our insurance and we're always covered on his first day of work. COBRA is soooooo expensive.

cherrybreeze, ADN, RN · Jul 25, 2011

Why are you considering a job change and getting pregnant at the same time?

I would only consider this an issue if you were already pregnant, and HAD to find/start a new job. Just put off getting pregnant until you know if you are changing jobs, and know what their policy is for insurance if you DO change jobs. It doesn't serve much purpose to guess about something we don't really know. Don't make a complicated situation where there doesn't need to be one.

obenfermera1 · Jul 25, 2011

# 1..Yeah, what cherrybreeze said.... why would you stress yourself out if you don't have to? You're talking about finding out definite answers in September! Safe sex only until September isn't really "putting off having a family" is it? Just makes sense IMHO...

#2..FYI, I'm in Georgia and I also have never had to wait for insurance to kick in..granted I've only worked at 3 hospitals and 1 agency in the last 16 years, but for all of those the health benefits were immediate, as were my husbands who does not work in the healthcare industry. Based on all the posts, this seems to vary widely, so you really do need to know this from your potential new employer before you make a decision though.

#3..Another FYI...You're not protected under the Family Medical Leave Act until you've been employed for a year, so you also need to know if your potential new employer is going to feel flexible about you taking maternity leave before the 12 month waiting period is up or if you'll be terminated and have to reapply for your job when your maternity leave is over. Job security baby!! Oh, and if you're part-time you actually only get protection under FMLA if you worked 1250 hours minimum in the previous 12 months on the job prior to your leave (hence the 12 month rule) this is approx 24 hours per week btw.

#4..If income is an issue for maternity leave, a short term disability policy would help alot, but they typically won't cover pregnancy if you're pregnant when you sign up, so you've got to get a policy in place prior to pregnancy. My last policy had a one year elimination period, which sucked *ss!

I hope something out of here will help a little...

All of this I had to learn the hard way and via a very uncooperative employer in the past, so just know that the more you know the easier the whole thing will be! Good luck and congratulations in advance! :heartbeat