Ask HN: 60 days of employment before health insurance?

I've had to wait at at least 1 job I had, although it was years ago during the dot-com boom, & I don't recall how long I had to wait. It didn't matter to me at the time, and I didn't think anything of it.

I recently read a book on hiring, and it said it's a common practice.

I've never worked for a company that did that, but I've heard of some that do. Ask for an exemption to that rule, or failing that, try to negotiate a signing bonus that would cover COBRA or an individual plan.

The Aetna Small Business policy I have requires a 90 day period before new employees are eligible for coverage. In the past, we have covered 50% of their Cobra payments from their prior employer or in one case, paid 50% of their current individual policy.

Florida requires employers to pay 50% of the health insurance premiums, but only for the company policy. I just figured it was the right thing to do as it is a benefit and it didn't seem right to shortchange people for 90 days.

I think the job I'm at now made me wait 90 days. It didn't seem too unusual. Well anyway they had a 90-day "probabtionary" period where either side could just decide that it wasn't working out and walk away, so I guess it makes sense to put off health insurance etc. for that time.

I've had to wait 60-90 days for insurance at every single job I've had. This seems to be the norm in NY/NJ, at least.

I guess each locality has their own standards. In every company I have worked for(in Maryland), insurance started the first of the month following your start date(so between 1 and 30 days.) Not a state law either, because most retail workerslocally , once they get full time, have to wait 60-90 days. With a family I'm not so sure I would take a job with a 60 day wait.

Happened to me at a small company that was swimming in cash (swank offices).

They told me that if you get seriously ill within the first 60 days, you can sign up for COBRA and be covered from then on through your previous employer's health insurance.

You have 60 days to decide if you want COBRA or not, so even if you don't go for COBRA right away, you are "safe" (sort of) for 60 days. Got diagnosed with cancer on day 59? Sign up with COBRA, pronto.

Implied: If you do get seriously ill right after starting - the new company wouldn't want you working for them anyway.

This is Uh-merica, roll with it ;)