Company medical cover?

Question

i have just applied for a job which i mit get. for me to get an insurance cover do they carry out tests like blood work. if found to have a disease, longterm eg. diabetes, HIV.does the insurance company share the information wit employers. i mit miss the job then..

is there option to refuse the cover..

how does this work

Answer 1

Most of the answers to this question so far have been American, but I think the law is similar here in the UK.

I don't think the insurance company is allowed to share the information with your employer.

Of course, you don't have to have the cover if you don't want it.

Answer 2

Generally group policies are guaranteed issue for any employee who meets the criteria for coverage, so your medical isn't going to matter at this point.  

HIPPA laws are in effect that your medical conditions can not be released to anyone with out your signed consent.  Plus, I would guess if the company is giving you forms for insurance you have already secured your position, and it is illegal to terminate someone because of a medical condition unless that condition is preventing them from doing their job.  

I say don't worry about it.  You could refuse the coverage, but that would be silly, plus sometimes even when you refuse coverage you still are required to fill out the medical.

Answer 3

Generally, there is no blood work or physicals of any kind when you get on a group policy. You might have a questionnaire and you need to answer truthfully. Depending upon the policy there might be a waiting period before they'll cover any pre-existing conditions.

Because of the privacy act the insurance company is forbidden by law to tell you employer about any conditions or treatment you receive under the policy. If they do that's grounds for a lawsuit.

Answer 4

Under federal law, your medical condition cannot be released to your employer (or pretty much anyone else) unless you authorize it. Your employer sets up the rules for you to be eligible for the coverage. Usually, there is a waiting period (30-90 days) before you will actually get the coverage. If you have something that is pre-existing (and didn't have coverage previously) they may have a waiting period for benefits on that condition. Sometimes it can be 1 year.

You would be foolish to refuse the coverage. You won't be able to get coverage cheaper, and if you do have a chronic condition, it will be VERY difficult to find a carrier that will insure you as an individual.

Answer 5

If you have an existing condition, there might be an waiting period (six months is common) before the group insurance policy will cover it, but it shouldn't be a concern as far as your job goes.

Yes, you could decline the medical insurance completely, but that would be foolish on your part unless you have coverage elsewhere, like under a spouse's policy.