How to keep Health insurance from being cut because of low hours?

Question

My sister is 6 months pregnant and just found out from her work today that her health care insurance is going to be cancelled this week because she is not making enough hours for her to keep her coverage. Is there anyway around this? Or any suggestions? She is married but her husband cannot add her to his coverage until enrollment period which is after her due date. He also makes to much to have medicade.

Answer 1

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Answer 2

Yes, agreed...she'll qualify to be added to the husband's coverage, plus she may be eligible for COBRA as well.

Answer 3

Any way she can pick up extra hours for awhile?  It's pretty common that part time employees aren't eligible for health benefits.

Answer 4

You can't.  You can't make them keep her on there, the insurance company won't allow it.

She's going to have to take COBRA coverage with her current employer - although I strongly suggest that her husband COULD add her - her losing coverage through her employer should be a qualifying event, to get around the open enrollment issue.

Answer 5

Her husband should advise his HR rep that his wife is losing benefits due to a reduction in hours at her employer.  That should be considered a "qualifying event" and allow her to be added without waiting for open enrollment.

Otherwise, she should inquire with her current employer to confirm whether she will be COBRA eligible.  But I'd go with the husband's coverage first...COBRA premiums are expensive!  (You pay 100% of the total premium + an administrative fee.)

Answer 6

Since her losing the insurance is due to a drop in hours, this is a qualifying event which will enable her to be added to her husband's insurance before open enrollment. Since pregnancy cannot be counted as a pre-existing condition, she will have the insurance she needs for her pregnancy and delivery. Her husband should check with his HR to see how they coordinate this.

Good luck!

Answer 7

A "significant change in the health insurance coverage of the employee or spouse attributable to the spouse's employment" is a qualifying event which allows the husband to add your sister to his insurance.

Don

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