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insurance and possibly a new job

LboesenLboesen
in 1st Trimester

So I think that I'm about 6 weeks pregnant and am currently employed but looking for new employment. I have one opportunity that may turn out to be something good soon but I was wondering. Should I wait to make any doctors appointments until I know about this other job? Because isn't pregnancy considered a pre-existing condition? And if I go now, and then do get a new job will my prenatal care and delivery not be covered by any new insurances?

I'm trying not to stress but I really need to get out of my current job, but I don't want to delay any care for my baby just because of stupid insurance rules?

Thanks for any ideas

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Re: insurance and possibly a new job

  • BetchySproutBetchySprout member
    If there is no gap in insurance there should be no issue with the pregnancy. I would go ahead and make an appointment. You can always cancel it. 
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  • adorkablechickadorkablechick
    A law was passed recently making it illegal for insurance companies to call pregnancy a pre-existing condition, so you should be fine.
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  • rowanthefrogrowanthefrog member

    INsurance can't deny you because of pre-existing conditions anymore unless you have a gap in your insurance coverage.

    However....you will not be eligible for the 12 weeks of unpaid maternity leave FMLA with a new company because typically you have to be employed for 1 year to be eligible.  Additionally, different companies have different policies about how long you need to be employed with them to qualify for any paid maternity leave they may offer.  Re: FMLA, basically that means that they can hire someone else for your job while you are on maternity leave and are not required to hold it for you.  Now depending on the company this may or may not be a concern, some are less stringent with the requirements, but its something you should keep in mind.

     

    That said, unless it is obvious and you are showing, I would NOT mention you are pregnant in any job interview.  While it is illegal for them to not offer you the job because you are pregnant, Pg discrimination happens all the time, so keep it quiet unless you have to tell them (once they have actually offered you the job.)


    A 

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  • TheQuietGrrrlTheQuietGrrrl member
    imagerowanthefrog:

    INsurance can't deny you because of pre-existing conditions anymore unless you have a gap in your insurance coverage.

    However....you will not be eligible for the 12 weeks of unpaid maternity leave FMLA with a new company because typically you have to be employed for 1 year to be eligible.  Additionally, different companies have different policies about how long you need to be employed with them to qualify for any paid maternity leave they may offer. 

    Pretty much this (make your doc appt.) but with one other thing to consider.  For many companies (mine being one of them), your ONLY means of pay during maternity leave is whatever PTO or sick leave you've accrued and short term disability insurance.

    If you get STD through your employer (instead of paying OOP for your own policy) new employer's STD won't touch you with a ten mile pole.  You need to be paying into it at least a year before coverage will become effective. 

    Whether this is what you have to sacrifice to get better longer term, more flexible career prospects, that decision's up to you.

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  • RunningGal900RunningGal900 member

    I believe that with HIPPA even with a gap in your insurance, pregnancy can never be considered a pre-existing condition. Other conditions can with a gap, but if your new employer has maternity coverage, they can't deny you coverage.

    https://www.insure.com/articles/healthinsurance/pregnancy.html

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  • LboesenLboesen

    Thanks everyone for all the good advice and thoughts. With everything going on at the moment I'm not sure what to do, but every little bit is a huge help!!

    Here's to hoping everything works out!

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  • anakinanakin

    The pre-existing condition part of the new healthcare law doesn't go into effect for a few years.  I know because I have been denied individual coverage for pre-existing conditions, so I checked it out as soon as the law was passed.

    But if the company you move to is covered by HIPPA then they can't consider it pre-existing.  That part of HIPPA has been in effect for ever.  

    Ditto what pp said about the short term disability insurance though.  If you're there for a short period of time or work for a place that offers no pay during leave you'll need something to make that up.  So either have it all saved, or pay for the STD insurance.

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