GIST Support WikiWhether you can keep adequate insurance coverage is an important factor in decisions about changing jobs.
The answer to the question about getting new insurance through an employer is "it depends" on the coverage that the new employer has, if any. There are many small businesses that cannot longer afford to supply health insurance. A cancer diagnosis, will make it almost impossible to get any type of "private insurance", unless Medicare is involved. There are many companies that are self insured. They go on the premise that their employees are basically healthy and a few will not deplete their insurance reserves. Some policies have a long waiting period, a year or more, for preexisting conditions. Some companies policies do not have any type of conditions as long as the insurance is accepted within the "open enrollment" period. Waiting or not correctly filling out the paperwork could jeopardize the insurance coverage.
Even if a company offers insurance, the coverages also can vary greatly, as far as what they cover, copays, prescription plans, lifetime caps, etc. The days of "80-20" are going away, due to the costs to the employer. I have heard many people are now being offered 60-40 plans, with caps on coverage and very high deductibles ($5000). Gleevec is usually considered as medicine , not "treatment" (like chemo)and can have caps and high copays on it from a lot of insurers.
If there is a waiting period for new insurance, which can be 90 or more days, it must be made up for with COBRA coverage, which can be really expensive. COBRA is the same insurance that you now have from your employer, but YOU pay the whole monthly premium. It is usually offered for 18 months from the time you leave your old job, but under certain circumstances, can be continued for 36 months. You usually make payments to your old employer, but if they are late, you can be cancelled. COBRA was initiated so that you can fulfill the provisions that you MUST be insured continually for a time period before your new insurance goes into effect in order to avoid some preexisting clauses.
Bottom line is it is VERY important to get and thoroughly read any insurance brochure before accepting any new job, once you have a medical history. You might even want to call an insurer and ask specific questions relative to your own medical needs. Do not forget your spouse or children's medical history, if they will be covered under the new policy. Remember, it might be the spouse or child that has the medical problems, not the employee.
I would hate to see anyone change jobs and then find out that the new insurance coverage will not meet the medical needs. Changing jobs when you or your covered dependents have health related issues can be a very sticky situation!!!