An employer offers a corporate or employer health insurance plan to a company's employees. Family members are also eligible for the employee benefits packages offered by employers' health insurance programs.
The fact that the employer covers the cost of the insurance premium is the group health insurance policy's most important benefit for employees. This indicates that an employee is not charged for insurance coverage. However, if an employee leaves their employer, they are no longer included in the insured group of employees and the coverage ends. If you fall into this category of employee and are curious about how to change from group health insurance to an individual health insurance plan, continue reading to learn more.
When a Job Change Affects Health Insurance
You might be protected by the employer's health insurance as an employee (sometimes referred to as the group mediclaim policy or the group health insurance policy), but what if the coverage ends when you leave or resign your job?
Having health insurance will protect you when you need medical care, especially in an emergency, when you change jobs, when you've been laid off, or when you start working for yourself. If you don't have health insurance for you and your family, you may have to pay out of pocket, and depending on how serious the medical emergency is, you may easily go bankrupt. So, how can you fill a gap in your healthcare coverage? Fortunately, you have a few solutions.
What is the Process for Changing Jobs with Group Health Insurance?
The group insurance scheme offered by your employer often expires on the employee's last day of employment. However, some businesses in the nation offer their staff group insurance and cover the cost in full or in part. In the event that you want to change employment or are laid off, can the group insurance coverage be moved or switched to an individual health insurance policy?
After completing the necessary paperwork, an employee can change the group insurance to an individual health insurance plan with the same insurance provider, according to the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI).
Having said that, the health insurance company has complete authority to determine the specifics of the new policy. Only a small number of insurance providers and organisations provide the option to move from group insurance to individual insurance. Therefore, you should ask your employer if there is a way to keep using the same insurer even after the plan is changed to an individual one.
You might have to pay an additional payment and maybe even present a medical certificate to switch from group health insurance to individual health insurance. Please be aware that this procedure is optional and that whether or not to offer the conversion is up to the insurance provider.
Examine Your Insurance Options During a Job Change
There are two possible scenarios. The group health insurance plan might first be changed to individual insurance. Second, you and your family can purchase private health insurance. Before leaving your current position in search of a new opportunity, consider the following inquiries:
- Are you covered by a personal health insurance plan in addition to the group coverage offered by your job at the moment?
- Does the present group insurance plan cover you once your employment with the specific employer ends?
- Are you and your family's medical emergencies adequately covered by your personal health insurance policy?
- Will having either a short- or long-term health insurance plan be beneficial when you're unemployed?
- Can your spouse's health insurance plan cover you?
Group Health Insurance: Things to Think About Before Changing Jobs
Make sure to ask yourself these questions before thinking about changing jobs:
- What additional financial considerations exist aside from the salary?
- What choices do you have for paying medical bills?
- Is my family safeguarded if something unfortunate happens to me when I change jobs?
Actions to Take Before Leaving Your Employment
Ensure that you take the following factors into account before quitting your current job:
- Determine whether or not your existing employer's health insurance can be switched to an individual or personal health insurance policy.
- To upgrade or maintain your current personal health insurance coverage, find out if the health insurance plan offered by the new company offers a combination of deductibles, coinsurance, and copays.
- Find out if the GMC of the new job mandates a waiting period. If you don't want to wait, see if your current personal health insurance offers continuation coverage, or choose a short-term plan to bridge the time between employment.
- Compare the new group health insurance plan provided by the new workplace with the existing one.
Conclusion
Health insurance for you and your family during unexpected medical crises or anticipated hospital stays is an important necessity, just like with any significant life decision. You must get health insurance in order to protect yourself from unanticipated medical expenses. To ensure your protection at all times, think about purchasing a personal or private health insurance plan in addition to the workplace group plan. But before you do that, make sure you weigh all of your options in order to make a wise choice.
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