Source
r/HealthInsurance•
kingjam

Accepted raise and benefits employer tells me I can't be covered now and should get it from healthcare.gov

A few weeks back before the new year I decided to look for a different job. I was successful and offered a job with benefits and higher wage. My current job didn't want to see me go and offered me a competitive offer that included health insurance. I like the place and people so I stayed. But yesterday the owner approaches me and says that the enrollment period is over and then said some stuff about how his broker is lazy, but the end result was him telling me I'll need to find other healthcare until October rolls around. My question is what should I do in this scenario? I'm 26 and just got kicked off my moms plan and had started signing up with the marketplace but canceled the service because I was told by my employer I'd be covered after the first.

Posted Jan 6, 2017, 3:26 PM UTC

410
JF42•

I would think that "becoming eligible" for insurance qualifies you to enroll outside the normal period. I'm sure that new hires on November 1st don't wait a year for insurance. Worst case: Go get insurance privately (call a broker) and ask your boss to pay for it.

3
kingjamOP•

Thank you for the reply you and the other commenter seem to be saying the same thing. If I can't get on thier plan have them pay for one I find. Thank you for your help!

2
nbphotography87•

Keep in mind that under the ACA, if an employer is reimbursing an employee's premiums for coverage obtained outside of the employer's group health plan, then they must do so through taxable earnings.

In other words, if your employer agrees to cover the expense of your exchange plan, they must add the amount to your pay as regular earnings and your and they must pay taxes on those earnings.

1
gvrillawn•

When did you turn 26? Turning 26 is considered a qualifying event. Qualifying events allow you to become eligible for your companies plan outside open enrollment. You have 60 days from the day you turn 26 to get your own health insurance plan. If you are past the 60 days, I would talk to your company about increasing your salary for the 10 months until open enrollment to take account for you being on the exchange. Your company is forgoing a cost by not having you on your plan so they really are not losing any money by increasing your salary for the few months.

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kingjamOP•

I turn 27 this month I was on my mothers plan throughout 26 and when she switched jobs they booted me off.

2
gvrillawn•

Ah. You should have been kicked off a long time ago. When you turn 26, this is when you are no longer eligible to be on your parents plan. You are very lucky you were able to stay on a plan for an extra year. Your best bet is to enroll in the exchange. Open enrollment is until January 31, 2017. If you do not hit this deadline, you will not have health insurance unless you change jobs, get married, etc.

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cowscamehome•

This is incorrect. Employers can elect to choose how long dependent children can stay on a plan. For example I work for an insurance company and we allow dependent children to stay on until age 30.

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zebra-stampede•

My current job didn't want to see me go and offered me a competitive offer that included health insurance. I like the place and people so I stayed

Nooo, you never stay haha. Watch your back, they may try to oust you over the next year. But that's just advice based on jobs.

As far as insurance, I believe your manager has the capability to enroll you up to sixty days past your offer period, but federally can also require you to wait 90 days for benefits, so if you're within either of those windows, they should be able to add you.

That said, you can find a plan on www.healthcare.gov. The only issue is you will not be given a subsidy since you have employer offered insurance, though you might be able to get away with saying 'no' to that question since you won't be offered coverage until October through them.

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nbphotography87•

What is your employer's waiting period for new employees? Can they terminate & re-hire you?

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[deleted]•

[removed]

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