Can my employee apply for group health coverage that I offer at any time during their employment?
Q: Can my employee apply for group health coverage that I offer at any time during their employment?
A: No. New hires have to fulfill a “lag-time” or waiting period that is predetermined in your contract with the insurance company. Once that waiting period is met your employee can apply within 30 days of the effective date for coverage.
If your employee fails to apply for coverage at this time they will have to wait until the group’s anniversary date, also known as, open enrollment, to apply.
However, your employee may be eligible to apply for coverage prior to open enrollment with a “qualifying event.”
A qualifying event can be:
• Loss of coverage from prior insurance
• Death
• Divorce
• Marriage
