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Does your new job offer health insurance?
Before you accept a new job, ask if your new employer offers health insurance. If it does, here are some things to consider:
- Will your employer pay all or some of your monthly premium?
- If you want to add your family to your health plan, how much the premiums will be?
- What does the plan cover?
- How much will you have to pay in copays and deductibles? You’ll find this information in the health plan’s “summary of benefits and coverage.”
If your new job doesn’t offer health insurance and you need to buy your own, use our Health plan shopping guide.
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Is there a waiting period?
If you’ll get health insurance at your new job, ask when it starts. Some plans make you wait before your coverage starts.
If your new plan has a waiting period, you might want to keep the plan you had at your old job until your new plan starts. Ask your former employer about COBRA coverage or state continuation. These allow you to keep a plan from your old job for a while in some cases.
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Ask about life or disability insurance
If your new job doesn’t offer life or disability insurance, ask human resources at your old job if you can keep your old policies or convert them to policies that you can take with you. You can also buy your own life and disability insurance if you still want them.
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Don’t forget about your car and house
If you’re moving to another city or state, check to see if your auto, renters, and homeowners rates might change. Ask your homeowners insurance company if your policy covers theft or damage during the move. Your moving company might also cover any theft or damage.
If you don’t use your car to drive to work, tell your insurance company. It could mean a discount or lower rates. -
Do you need to close any work accounts?
If you have a health savings account, flexible spending account, or separate vision or dental insurance at work, make sure you know what you need to do to transfer, close, or keep them. If you close or transfer an account, ask about fees. And ask what the deadline is to close the account. If you miss the deadline, you could lose the money you put into the account.
Resources
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