Just Recieved A Job Offer With Health Insurance

[geezlouise]

I'm a recent graduate, and I'm just beginning my career at 26. The job I was offered comes with benefits, and I have some questions about Employer-provided Health Insurance. I live in Texas and I want to know if my HIV status will be disclosed to my employer. I'm a bit nervous, because.. Texas. I'm unsure if I should accept the insurance or shop for insurance on my own.

[absopozilutely]

There are HIPAA laws protecting you, what is the profession? Definitely take the health insurance!!!

[geezlouise]

The Job is in Marketing, but I'm worried about the people at work finding out. Do you know if my employer can somehow find out about my status?

[AusShep]

The plan from your employer is pretty much guaranteed to be (much) better and lower cost than you can get on your own.  I'm in TX too BTW.

Don't worry about your employer finding out.  In all likelihood they will not, and even if the plan is self funded and something slips through, which is probably less likely now than in the past, there is no chance in hell the benefit director will talk to your boss or probably even know which person(s) are on meds, just that they paid for them, they're bound by the same confidentially as the insurance company.

[geezlouise]

The insurance plan offered would be United Healthcare, and it would be an HMO. I don't know much about insurance, but what do you mean self-funded. Does that mean the HR person would know?

[buginme2]

Your jobs not going to find out.  It doesnt work that way.  There are laws and protections in place to protect your privacy. 

Why the freak out? 

Your giving HIV way more power than it deserves. 

[AusShep]

The insurance plan offered would be United Healthcare, and it would be an HMO. I don't know much about insurance, but what do you mean self-funded. Does that mean the HR person would know?

Don't worry about self funded or HR. 

United is good, I've had them for several years, although I'd go with a PPO option instead of HMO if it's available to you.  You can now opt out of their specialty pharmacy mail order program which was required for HIV meds if you want, although I never had a problem with mail order when I used it.

[allanq]

Self-funded or self-insured means that the company funds its own insurance. The company itself pays all claims, rather than transferring the risk to an outside insurance company. Generally, only very large companies can assume this risk. Typically, the company that is self-insured uses the services of a company like Aetna or Cigna to administer the plan and process the claims.

With a self-funded plan, when you submit a claim or have any questions about a claim, you deal with the plan administrator, not your employer. I worked for a company that was self-insured, and I always felt comfortable that the use of the intermediary company to process my claims provided sufficient assurance of confidentiality.