Changing Jobs

A law was passed in 1996 to protect individuals who are seeking new employment opportunities or who simply would like to change group health insurance options. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act also known as HIPAA (http://www.dol.gov/ebsa/newsroom/fshipaa.html) will provide anyone who has health insurance for at least 12 months and has had no break in coverage greater then 63 days an opportunity to pick up their new insurance without a pre-existing clause. Since some employers have a waiting period of 3 months before insurance will be in effect, but sure to elect COBRA benefits in the interim. Also under the Patient Protection and Affordabe Care Act, there are provisions in place to remove pre-existing health conditions starting in 2014 for adults and have already impacted those under age 18. (www.insureUStoday.org or www.healthcare.gov) Additionally, each state is mandated to offer a Pre-Existing Insurance Health Plan (www.pcip.gov) for when you are not eligible for other coverage and have had a lapse of 6 months or more.

Life insurance does not have any laws to offer the same protection. This is not an area of specialty for PAF, I recommend you speak to your employer human resource department about conversion opportunities or open enrollment options without medical disclosure requirement at the new employer or even a life insurance agent.