Can insurance companies deny coverage for someone because they have a child with Autism?
My son has autism. I am currently employed and have insurance through my work. I am planning on moving and taking a new job but I am worried that I will not be able to get insurance for my son if I move. If anyone knows anything about this please help.
Thanks,
Randy S.
insurance
No but they will not provide coverage for anything stemming from his condition.
If your current company has over 20 employees (Federal law; some states have lower requirements), the company is required to offer you COBRA. This lasts for 18 months but can be extended for another 18 months for some pre-existing conditions. I don’t know if autism counts.
COBRA costs 102% of the entire premium (employee amount + employer amount + 2% administration fees).
Group health plans, like offered through, employers are not allowed to discriminate for pre-existing conditions. So if you don’t lose coverage for even a day, the new plan will cover you, if you get it through work.
If you get your new job through your employer, then you cannot be denied. Moving to a GROUP policy, they must take you, and as long as your lapse in coverage is less than 63 days, they must also cover preexisting conditions.
But if you’re hoping to get private coverage, unless you’re moving to a “guaranteed issue” state, you won’t get private coverage for your boy – and even if it is a guaranteed issue state, it’s going to cost a way, way WAY lot more. So budget accordingly.
~~An employer’s group insurance must cover you and if they offer family coverage then they would have to accept your son as well.
If you had to get private insurance then no they aren’t forced to cover him. However, most states have a high risk policy that must be made available. For the average person the premium is unaffordable and the coverage is really bad.
Good news is, most states also have a healthy children’s insurance and will charge according to wages. If his condition continues and he is never able to work, see an attorney in the state you move to, and find out if there is a state permanent disability program available for him. ~~