No. The employer cannot force you not to take the coverage. However, if you don't want you may have to sign a waiver.
No. The Employer must notify you.
No, an employer cannot harass their employees into dropping coverage. It is not the employers business to get involved in the personal insurance details of their employees.
Where you covered under an Employer Group or Individual Plan? If Employer Group - they would be eligible for COBRA - If Individual - then just tell the Insurance Company to take you off.
Neither, This is generally addressed in the terms of your employment. Sometimes the company will provide the coverage while other times The employee will. However, Most often, when working in the employ of another the employer will carry the necessary coverage.
No. An employer can start offering health insurance to employees day 1. Due to health care reform, effective January 1st, 2014, a group health plan may not use a waiting period that exceeds 90 days. A waiting period is the period of time that must pass before coverage for an employee or dependent who is otherwise eligible for the plan can become effective. Being eligible for coverage means having met the plan's eligibility conditions (such as being in an eligible job classification).
The employer does not have to pay for the spouse's coverage. It can be offered to the employee and the cost taken from his/her paycheck to cover the spouse. There is no legal requirement for the employer to offer coverage for spouses -- even at the employee's expense. However, it would be very unusual for a plan to cover only employees and not have coverage available for spouses and children.
Depends what the waiting period is. You would probably be eligible for COBRA in the interim.
The amount that is paid for any kind of insurance is called "premiums". The same term applies whether an employee or employer pay for the insurance.
My employer requires that my husband participate in his company's health insurance or they will drop him from their insurance. Insurance is a choice offered as a benefit by the employer because the employer is paying a portion of the cost to be insured. You do not have to participate if you don't want to. Also, the question being answered is that can an employer force an employee's spouse to take coverage offered elsewhere: NO. If a company offers a family health plan, they CANNOT specify that a spouse take other insurance if available. They CAN require that if you are declining coverage from them (your own employer), that you show you have coverage elsewhere.
Yes, in certain situations. For example, 1) If you are no longer considered an "Eligible Employee" - (ie. you no longer work enough hours to be considered full-time); 2) If your employer discontinues the plan for all employee's. Note: Any involuntary loss of coverage may be a COBRA or HIPAA event.
Yes, it is more likely it is the insurance provider's requirement rather than the employer.
If you had an employee covered under a group policy (less than 5), do you have to provide Cobra insurance to the employee until they find other coverage if they leave the company?