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I started a new job and insurance won't kick in for 2 months.

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Anonymous

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I started a new job and insurance won't kick in for 2 months. I'm paying for insurance through marketplace and it's very expensive. At my last job, insurance began on day 1. I thought that was the new norm - that we no longer have to wait so long. Is this not the case? Do I have any recourse for getting insurance faster or I just need to deal?

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  1. Anonymous

    Most jobs is 90 day wait. America is the worst

  2. Anonymous

    Agree!

  3. Jennifer Taylor

    You should have been told about benefits prior to singing an employment contract. This could have been negotiated when you were first offered the job. Your next step should be to talk to your HR rep and see if there is anything they can do.

  4. Anonymous

    Thanks

  5. Anonymous

    You can elect COBRA to keep your previous coverage (if you haven't already missed the window for that) or you can search the marketplace for insurance. Never mind. I reread your opening lines.

    Not all employers do from Day 1. Some do 30, first of the month after 30, 60 or first of the month after 60, and 90 or first of the month after 90. No, you have no recourse and yes, you just deal. For future reference, when you change jobs, please make sure you are aware of benefits, what they are, when they start, etc.

  6. Anonymous

    Thanks

  7. Anonymous

    If insurance that started on the first day were so important, what prevented you from investigating this before you accepted the offer? I'm sorry you're in this position but no employer is going to bend the rules for a single new hire because they think a Day 1 start should be the new norm. Do you have any recourse? They're going to tell you to find another job.

  8. Anonymous

    Thanks. I have insurance so I'm ok. It's just expensive.

  9. Anonymous

    My new role was like this too, 60 days to get health insurance. My company kicked in 2/3 of my cobra payment for that time period. You may want to aske if they would help with a partial payment? They may not, but it is worth a try.

  10. Anonymous

    Great suggestion. I have insurance through marketplace but it's very expensive

  11. Anonymous

    No recourse. When companies set up their insurance programs there are rules offered at differing rates. Some cover day one insurance and others do 30, 60 and 90 day programs. No insurance companies do partial month payments so for bookkeeping reasons the insurers only bill the company for full months. So, depending upon the size and maturity of the company they up front make that choice when they do their annual renewal. I would if I were you next time negotiate the cost of your out of pocket payment as a one off. They cannot change the terms of the contract for one person and cannot be inconsistent in their use of their program for just you. The only caveat is if you are a C level or Officer or Executive level hire. Those usually have special level treatment. Congrats on the new role and when tax time comes around ask your tax preparer if you can write off those 2 months of costs, I think you may be able to.

  12. Anonymous

    So helpful! Thank you.

  13. Cindy Glover

    Depends on the company

    are you covered by cobra now?

  14. Anonymous

    I get insurance through marketplace

  15. Anonymous

    Thanks. I'm getting insurance through marketplace. I'm seeing from the responses that this is normal

  16. Anonymous

    ok thanks for explaining that.

  17. Anonymous

    I have insurance through marketplace but it's very expensive.

  18. Anonymous

    Thanks

  19. Anonymous

    Day 1 is a luxury!!!!

    Usually offered with less enticing opportunities to persuade people (a good idea IMO)

    My current role started x/1 AFTER 30 days (pleasantly surprised); job before it was 90. . I stated 11/16 and insurance was 1/1. Sometimes it's 60 days or 90.

  20. Anonymous

    Thanks!

  21. Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition Specialist

    I'm not exactly sure what you mean by recourse - the agreement the company has with their insurance carrier won't be changed for one person.

    I recommend candidates ask about this during the interview process and if they're going to have to pay COBRA or buy insurance from their State marketplace out of pocket, ask for a sign-on bonus to cover all or part of the costs.

    Congratulations on your new position!

  22. Anonymous

    Very helpful! Thank you.

  23. Anonymous

    You can sometimes negotiate having them pay your marketplace premium until the company insurance kicks in.

  24. Anonymous

    Thanks!

  25. Anonymous

    Wow, I see it's definitely not the norm on day 1, with amount of job hoppers, it's not in the best interest of any company, IMO, to offer that. Seems like Amazon may do it, but that's a whole different set up. I've NEVER seen a company pay for someone's Cobra like insurance while waiting, unless your Executive Suite would there and could there be exceptions. I think people need to plan for these gaps better and not hold others with the expectations of taking it on for them.

  26. Anonymous

    Thanks

  27. Lisa McCartney

    Two months seams reasonable. There are very few that start day 1.

  28. Anonymous

    Thanks

  29. Cheryl Wilburg

    It's still generally 90 days in most places. Some are at 6 months

  30. Pamela McDaniel

    my work is the 1st of the month after 30days...so no longer than 60 days without insurance

  31. Anonymous

    Thanks!

  32. Amy Carissa Oliver

    Hi all, just offering some information. You can purchase "gap" insurance that is much cheaper than marketplace or COBRA, when you are going to have a small gap of less than 100 days. I myself just utilized it to fill a 45-day gap in 2023. It was very easy to do; my plan was through United Healthcare. You also can choose the level of care you think you're going to need.

  33. Anonymous

    Thank you! I did not know this. I bought mine through marketplace. Do you go directly to the insurance companies to buy, or through marketplace for this?

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